Nd:YAG laser treatment of benign urethral strictures

Abstract

— 36 patients with benign urethral stenosis were treated with Nd:YAG laser irradiation. In 12 patients the stricture followed urethral infection, in 6 cases endoscopic procedures, in 10 cases it was post-traumatic and 8 cases were of unknown etiology. All the patients had pre-operative urethrocystography, urinalysis, uroflow and ultrasound evaluation. Under general anaesthesia, with an operative cystoscope, a guide wire was inserted to cross the urethral stricture and then a circular laser irradiation was executed. We used an Nd:YAG laser with a power of 25–30 watts/3 sec. After the procedure a catheter was positioned and then removed after 24 hours. Initially the results were excellent but after 18 months of follow-up, 14 patients had recurrences and underwent new treatment.