Clean intermittent self-catheterization after urethrotomy for recurrent urethral strictures

Although endoscopic optical urethrotomy is the primary treatment for urethral stricture, it is associated with a high recurrence rate, and the essential problem is how to stop the scar from shrinking after cutting. In a controlled study the effect of treatment of recurrent urethral stricture by internal urethrotomy followed by clean intermittent self-catheterization (CIC) for 6 or 12 months was compared in 25 and 24 patients, respectively. Patients learnt easily how to perform CIC: only one patient was not able to do it at home. All patients were evaluated by uroflowmetry before and immediately after urethrotomy, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months later. Recurrence was defined as the need for further treatment. There was no difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups, but the maximum flow rate was significantly lower at 12 months in the patients who had ceased catheterization at six months. Complications included in two patients asymptomatic bacteriuria and in 10 patients symptomatic urinary infection. CIC is a very satisfactory method of managing patients with recurrent stricture, it is easy to learn, it prevents a decrease in the maximum flow rate and can thus be applied to most patients instead of regular bouginage. On the basis of the present study we could not determine any optimal time for the duration of CIC after urethrotomy, or whether it has any effect on the natural course of the disease.