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[Endourethral prosthesis in recurrent urethral stenosis. Long-term follow-up]
P L Guzmań Martínez-Valls1, R Ferrero Doria, M Tomas Ros
1Servicio de Urología, Hospital General Universitario de Murcia, Espana.
Objectives:
To describe our experience with urethral stents in the treatment of recurrent strictures.
Methods:
From March 1991 to July 1992, 17 Wallstent and 1 Strecker self-expandable stents were implanted. Patient follow-up ranged from 11 to 40 months. The results were analyzed on the basis of the clinical, urodynamic, radiological and cystoscopic findings.
Results:
Of the 18 patients in whom a urethral stent had been implanted, 2 (11.1%) required removal of the stent, 1 patient was lost to follow-up, 2 had died during follow-up from causes unrelated with the procedure. At 40 months follow-up, late complications were observed in 8 patients (47%): intraprosthetic excrescence, erectile disorders, pollakiuria, lithiasis, episodes of RAO, or incontinence.
Conclusions:
In our view, the implanted urethral stent is a valid alternative when other techniques are not feasible or have failed (dilatation, internal urethrotomy, urethroplasty...), but we should not forget the long-term complications.