Use of multiple urolume endourethral prostheses in complex bulbar urethral strictures.

Abstract

We evaluated patients who received multiple UroLume Wallstents during the North American UroLume trial for the treatment of recurrent bulbar urethral strictures. A total of 41 patients received multiple UroLume stents. The clinical histories and therapeutic outcomes of these patients were reviewed. Of the patients 23% required placement of multiple urethral stents. Stents placed at the initial procedure were required for strictures longer than 2.5 cm. and for multiple, separate strictures. Indications for secondary insertion included recurrent stricture adjacent to the stent, hyperplastic tissue growth within the stent and gaps between previously adjacent stents. The repeat treatment rate was 43.9% versus 14.3% for the study group overall. Urine flow rates and symptom scores in the multiple stent group showed improvement similar to that of the study group overall. Patients who required multiple stents had greater rates of repeat treatment but similarly improved urine flows and symptom scores, which were maintained at 2 years.