URETHRAL WARMING CATHETER FOR USE DURING CRYOABLATION OF THE PROSTATE

Cryoablation of the prostate has been shown to be a useful tool in the eradication of prostate cancer. Sloughing of necrotic tissue per uret hra was one of the major complications of prostate cryosurgery during its initial application and led to its disuse by urologists. A cathete r was then needed until sloughing was complete and the patient again a ble to void. In a previous report, we have demonstrated that thermal p rotection of the urethra could be obtained by flowing warm irrigant th rough a thin-walled urethral conduit. To simplify the application of t his he;it, a dual lumen urethra! catheter has been de signed that can be passed transurethrally to circulate warm saline and prevent the des truction of the urethral epithelium. This prevents transmural necrosis , maintaining the epithelial barrier for containment of necrotic prost ate tissue after treatment. This urethral warming device is made of ma terials commonly found in operative stockrooms. To date, the device ha s functioned well with a urethral sloughing rate of 12% during its ini tial use.