Natural History of Low-stage Urethral Strictures.

Objective: To determine the natural history and rate of progression of incidental wide-caliber, anterior urethral strictures (USs) in men using a validated stricture staging system.

Subjects And Methods: Men with incidental findings of anterior US on cystoscopy performed for urologic conditions other than US were retrospectively reviewed from 2001 through 2016. Diagnosis of US on cystoscopy was made according to a validated staging system: stage 0 = no stricture; stage 1 = wide-caliber stricture; stage 2 = requires gentle dilation with a flexible cystoscope; stage 3 = impassable stricture with a visible lumen; and stage 4 = no visible lumen.

Validation of the lower urinary tract symptom score.

Introduction: To develop and validate a lower urinary tract symptom score (LUTSS) as a measure of lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) severity and a treatment outcome tool in adults.

Materials And Methods: An expert panel was convened to develop the LUTSS questionnaire. Content validity was achieved by obtaining subject and expert feedback from two prospective drafts.

Safety considerations for synthetic sling surgery.

Implantation of a synthetic midurethral sling (SMUS) is the most commonly performed anti-incontinence operation in women worldwide. The effectiveness of the SMUS is comparable to that of the historical gold standards--autologous fascial slings and the Burch colposuspension. Much controversy, however, has evolved regarding the safety of this type of sling.