[Efficacy of transurethral 2 microm laser urethrotomy in the treatment of urethral stricture and atresia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the curative efficacy of transurethral 2 microm thulium laser urethrotomy in the treatment of urethral stricture and atresia.


METHODS
192 patients suffering from urethral stricture (n = 179) or atresia (n = 13), all male, aged 45.4 (38-56), underwent transurethral 2 microm thulium laser urethrotomy. The maximum flow rate (MFR) was measured before operation, immediately after removing the catheter, and 3 and 6 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
All the patients got fluent urination immediately after the catheter removal with the mean MFR of (16.7 +/- 3.1) ml/s, significantly higher than that before the operation [(3.2 +/- 0.3) ml/s, P < 0.01]. 157 patients got permanent fluent urination without recurrence; 35 patients got recurrence 1 to 3 weeks after the catheter removal and got final cure 3 months later after periodic urethra dilatation. Besides, 6 patients encountered incontinence and all finally got convalescence after physical therapy and exercise. The mean MFR of all the patients 3 months and 6 months postoperatively were (18.7 +/- 3.1) ml/s and (19.2 +/- 2.8) ml/s respectively, both significantly higher than that before operation (both P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Transurethral 2 microm thulium laser urethrotomy is a safe and efficient method in the treatment of urethral stricture and atresia.
Department of Urology, Linyi People's Hospital, Shandong 276003, China.
Feng-fu
FF
Guo
Hua
H
Lu
Guang-jian
GJ
Wang
Shan-feng
SF
Tan
Xiang-fei
XF
He
Jian-ming
JM
Wang
D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013932:Thulium; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000601:surgery*
D013932:Thulium