title: Evaluation of holmium laser versus cold knife in optical internal urethrotomy for the management of short segment urethral stricture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  SACHSE COLD KNIFE IS CONVENTIONALLY USED FOR OPTICAL INTERNAL URETHROTOMY INTENDED TO MANAGE URETHRAL STRICTURES AND HO: YAG laser is an alternative to it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of urethral stricture treatment outcomes, efficacy, and complications using cold knife and Ho: YAG (Holmium laser) for optical internal urethrotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study included, 90 male patients age >18 years, with diagnosis of urethral stricture admitted for internal optical urethrotomy during April 2010 to March 2012. The patients were randomized into two groups containing 45 patients each using computer generated random number. In group A (Holmium group), internal urethrotomy was done with Holmium laser and in group B (Cold knife group) Sachse cold knife was used. Patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery in Out Patient Department on 15, 30 and 180 post-operative days. At each follow up visit physical examination, and uroflowmetry was performed along with noting complaints, if any.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The peak flow rates (PFR) were compared between the two groups on each follow up. At 180 days (6 month interval) the difference between mean of PFR for Holmium and Cold knife group was statistically highly significant (P < 0.001). Complications were seen in 12.22% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both modalities are effective in providing immediate relief to patients with single and short segment (<2 cm long) urethral strictures but more sustained response was attained with Cold knife urethrotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sudhir Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ram Chandra Murthy
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kaza
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bipin Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Cold knife urethrotomy; holmium laser urethrotomy; internal urethrotomy; short segment stricture; urethral stricture