A pilot study of a bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly L-lactic acid urethral stent combined with finasteride in the treatment of acute urinary retention from benign prostatic enlargement

Objective To assess whether patients with acute urinary retention from beni gn prostatic enlargement can be treated with a combined therapy comprising a bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly L-lactic acid (SR-PLLA) urethral stent and finasteride. Patients and methods Eleven men in acute urinary retention were treated as outpatients; they had a suprapubic catheter inserted and the SR-PLLA stent placed cystoscopically. The patients were allowed to attempt to void sponta neously after 2 days. Results All patients started to void spontaneously within 2 weeks. There wa s a steady improvement in urinary now rates up to 9 months, followed by a s light impairment after the bioabsorption of the stent. During the mean (ran ge) follow-up of 24 (23-26) months only three patients required surgical tr eatment. Conclusion The bioabsorbable SR-PLLA stent combined with finasteride therap y provides a promising new alternative in the treatment of acute urinary re tention, especially in patients unfit for surgical therapy. Larger, placebo -controlled studies are needed to establish the efficacy of this combined t herapy.