A self-expanding, self-retaining temporary urethral stent (Urocoil(TM)) in the treatment of recurrent urethral strictures: preliminary results.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of a self-expanding self-retaining temporary urethral stent (Urocoil) in patients with recurrent urethral strictures at different levels in the urethra.

Patients And Methods: Urocoil stents were placed in 18 patients (mean age 42 years, range 28-60) with recurrent urethral strictures. The stents were left for a mean of 8 months (range 6-14) and patients followed for a mean of 9 months (range 6-18) after removal of the stent, being assessed by urine culture, urethrography, flexible cystoscopy and urinary flow rate.

Results: The stents were easy to insert and remove under local anaesthesia. All patients except one had a satisfactory outcome. Complications included stent migration (3), encrustation (2), hyperplasia of the mucosa (2) and the one failure, where the stent was extruded by a long fibrous stricture.

Conclusion: The use of the temporary stent is an encouraging development in the treatment of this complicated problem but a longer follow-up is necessary to exclude the possibility of late recurrence.