Experience with cold knife optical internal urethrotomy

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the outcome and efficacy of cold knife optical internal urethrotomy. A retrospective analysis of 300 cases. The study was carried out over a period of 3 years [January 2005 to December 2007] in the Department of Urology, Bolan Medical College and Salim Medical Complex, Quetta. Three hundred male patients with urethral strictures were treated with cold knife optical urethrotomy over a period of 3 years. An analysis was carried out of the long-term results of optical internal urethrotomy to determine the outcome and efficacy of the procedure. The mean age was 25 years [range from 15-60 years]. The follow-up period on treated patients ranged from 3 months to 1 year. The results showed that early morbidity was 15.6% with no mortality. The recurrence rate was 6% [18 out of 300]. The results are consistent with other studies and confirm this as the preferred initial procedure in urethral strictures of bulbar, membranous and proximal penile urethra. Optical internal urethrotomy is safe and effective in the management of un-complicated urethral stricture. Urethroplasty should be considered in failed optical urethrotomy and recurrent stricture disease