title: [Urethral stent: a preliminary report].
abstract: Despite recent progress in endoscopic and reconstructive urology, the management of urethral strictures remains a challenge to all urologists. Repeated urethral dilation and endoscopic optic urethrotomy may cure the short urethral strictures, but they are frustrating and time-consuming both for the patient and the physician. Intermittent self-catheterization, which is suggested to maintain a satisfactory urethral lumen, is not well accepted by many patients. Urethroplasty procedure usually is successful in the treatment of traumatic strictures but it requires surgical skills and expertise to which few patients have easy access. We describe a new treatment for urethral strictures with the use of the urethral Wallstent, which is self-expanding and made of stainless steel, in 4 males with difficult urethral stricture (3 recurrent strictures and 1 fresh case). The results are satisfactory with less complications. It is a simple, safe and effective alternative to other surgical interventions in patients with intractable urethral stricture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Veterans Genral Hospital-Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000601:surgery*