THE USE OF URETHRAL STENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF URETHRAL STRICTURES

Three types of urethral stents can be used in the treatment of recurre nt strictures : Urolume/Wallstent is a self - expanding mesh which is incorporated into the urethral epithelium ; the ASI Titanium stent is a short rigid mesh of Titanium wire which is also incorporated into th e urethra ; Nitinol is a flexible spring in one or two parts connected by a steel wire. It remains endoluminal. The Urolume/Wallstent has be en used since 1987. It is indicated in iatrogenic strictures. No stati stical results are presented. The ASI stent should be reserved for str ictures of the prostatic and posterior urethra. The Niticol UroCoil sy stem can be used at all levels of the urethra ; two models are availab le : simple or twin. The author has inserted 65 stents in 56 patients. The stent was removed after one year in 41 patients. The use of these stents has considerably decreased the number of repeated dilatations and urethrotomies.