Treatment of Urethral Stricture Disease by Internal Urethrotomy, Dilation, or Stenting

Management of urethral strictures depends on the characteristics of each individual case and remains a great challenge in reconstructive urology. Treatment of anterior urethral strictures usually starts with minimally invasive procedures, such as urethral dilatation or internal urethrotomy. The popularity of these methods is based on the simple application, the low complication rate, and the fact that most general urologists do not perform open urethroplasty. These methods offer faster recovery, minimal scarring, and fewer infections, although recurrence is always possible. Success depends on adequate vascularity within the underlying spongiosal tissue, which may substantially increase the failure rate. Because the recurrence rate has remained higher than it was in past decades, various modifications of urethral stricture treatment have been suggested, including laser urethrotomy and urethral stents. Since the late 1980s, two different approaches have been studied to prevent scaring contraction: permanent stent versus temporary stents left indwelling for a limited time and then removed. Although the first reports seemed to promise excellent outcomes, longer follow-up began to cast doubt on the usefulness of urethral stenting as a primary treatment modality for urethral stricture disease. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the published literature with respect to any new information on minimally invasive procedures in the treatment of urethral strictures.Patient summaryThe optimal indications for dilatation or internal urethrotomy are simple bulbar strictures <2 cm without spongiofibrosis or history of previous treatment. Recurrent urethral strictures after repeated interventions are usually more complex and can render the definite open urethral surgery more difficult.