[On the size of the male urethra. Consequences of transurethral prostatic resection (author's transl)]

More recently it has been claimed by some authors that a disproportion between the size of the resectoscope and the lumen of the urethra is supposedly the cause of urethral strictures following transurethral prostatic resection. For this reason the use of resectoscopes no larger than 24 F in size has been urged. Reports in the literature as well as our own investigations in connection with the transurethral resection by cold punch technique cast some doubt on the wisdom of this statement as long as other causes, such as thermal damage during electroresection, are not definitely excluded.