URETHRAL STRICTURE FOLLOWING TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE - THE ROLE OF LOCAL-ANESTHETICS

In a multicentre prospective study, 261 patients undergoing transureth ral resection of the prostate (TU RP) in 17 urology departments were r andomised to receive lubricating jelly containing either 3% tetracaine hydrochloride, 1% lignocaine hydrochloride, or no local anaesthetic. No patient had a history of urethral instrumentation or a previous ure thral stricture. After 6 months' follow-up, 25/79 patients (32%) treat ed with 3% tetracaine jelly developed urethral strictures, as did 4/92 patients (4%) who received 1% lignocaine and 2/90 (2%) who received t he jelly without anaesthetic. It was concluded that the use of 3% tetr acaine jelly is associated with a high incidence of post-TURF urethral strictures.