A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra caused by scarring, leading to obstruction of urine flow. It may present as reduced urinary stream, infections or pain.
CONDITIONS
Urethral Stricture
Common Risk Factors
• Prior catheters or endoscopic treatment
• Lichen sclerosus
• Penile or perineal trauma
• Radiotherapy
How We Diagnose Urethral Stricture
• Flow test (uroflowmetry) and post-void residual on ultrasound
• Urine tests
• Cystoscopy
• Retrograde urethrogram – injection of contrast into the urethra
How We Treat Urethral Stricture
• For short, first-time strictures of the bulbar urethra (< 2 cm)
• Urethral dilation
• Optical internal urethrotomy – endoscopic cut with laser or internal knife to open the narrowing
• For complex, long or recurrent strictures
• Optilume – drug-coated balloon to help stretch and prevent recurrence in short recurrent strictures
• Surgery (urethroplasty) – one-stage or two-stage operation to offer long-term repair
• Catheters – long-term indwelling or suprapubic catheter, or regular self-catheterisation to dilate the stricture
