NEW TEMPORARY COIL STENT (UROCOIL) FOR TREATMENT OF RECURRENT URETHRAL STRICTURES

The Urocoil(R) is a temporarily inserted self-expanding and self-retaining coil stent made of medical-grade stainless steel that is inserted under fluoroscopy after topical anesthesia of the urethra. This stent was used for 16 patients with a variety of recurring urethral strictures who had been managed in the past by repeated dilatations and urethrotomies. The stent was left in place for 6 months. Unlike permanently implanted mesh stents, no tissue growth into the lumen occurred with this stent, making its removal a simple procedure. With a follow-up of 3 to 9 months after removal, no recurrence of the strictures was observed. This temporary stent seems to be effective in the treatment of recurring urethral strictures. Satisfactory and promising results were obtained without leaving a foreign body permanently in the urethra.