Experience with Cold Knife Optical Internal Urethrotomy

Objective: To evaluate the outcome and efficacy of cold knife optical internal urethrotomy. Study Design: A retrospective analysis of 300 cases. Place and Duration of Study: 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. Subjects and Methods: 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). Results: 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. Conclusion: 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. Key Words: Urethral stricture, Urologic diseases, Urinary retention, Surgery, Therapy,