title: Evaluation of cold knife urethrotomy for the treatment of anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy of cold knife urethrotomy for anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We contacted all patients who underwent cold knife urethrotomy for a symptomatic anastomotic stricture from May 1, 1992 through January 1, 2000 at our institution. A control group of patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy but did not complain of a decreased urine stream was similarly evaluated. Maximum urinary flow rate, post-void residual urine volume, American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and continence status with a questionnaire adapted from the RAND-University of California-Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index were determined in each study participant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified and contacted 61 patients. Complete data were collected on 36 of the 52 patients (59%) who agreed to participate. Mean time after urethrotomy was 31 months (range 1 to 77). In the control group the mean time after prostatectomy was 18.6 months (range 3 to 95). There was no statistically significant difference in the measured urinary parameters of maximum flow rate, post-void residual urine volume, AUA symptom index or continence status in the study and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cold knife urethrotomy provides a safe and effective response for the initial treatment of patients with anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy. Maximum urinary flow, post-void residual volume, AUA symptom score and perceptions of continence are similar to those in patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy and had no complaints of a weak urine stream.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, Arizona Health Sciences Center and Biometry Unit, Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yurkanin
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Dalkin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D014563:Urodynamics