title: A pilot study of a bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly L-lactic acid urethral stent combined with finasteride in the treatment of acute urinary retention from benign prostatic enlargement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether patients with acute urinary retention from benign prostatic enlargement can be treated with a combined therapy comprising a bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly L-lactic acid (SR-PLLA) urethral stent and finasteride.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven men in acute urinary retention were treated as outpatients; they had a suprapubic catheter inserted and the SR-PLLA stent placed cystoscopically. The patients were allowed to attempt to void spontaneously after 2 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients started to void spontaneously within 2 weeks. There was a steady improvement in urinary flow rates up to 9 months, followed by a slight impairment after the bioabsorption of the stent. During the mean (range) follow-up of 24 (23-26) months only three patients required surgical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bioabsorbable SR-PLLA stent combined with finasteride therapy provides a promising new alternative in the treatment of acute urinary retention, especially in patients unfit for surgical therapy. Larger, placebo-controlled studies are needed to establish the efficacy of this combined therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Päijät-Häme, Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isotalo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talja
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Välimaa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Törmälä
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tammela
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D018120:Finasteride