Adjuvant Therapy with Nd-YAG Laser in the Treatment of Urethral Stricture

Treatment of benign urethral strictures frequently is difficult because of a high rate of recurrence.

In general electrocautery resection of fibrous scar tissue has been unsatisfactory. since the irregular thermal injury may only promote further scarring. Because of their unique physical properties and tissue effects lasers theoretically offer advantages over conventional techniques for treatment of urethral strictures. The thermal injury resulting from neodymium : YAG laser irradiation may heal with more elastic properties and less fibrous contraction than an electrocautery burn. Accordingly endoscopic application of laser energy could produce thermal coagulation of the fibrous area with a secondary slough of the scar tissue and re-epithelialization without scar.

A total of 19 cases with benign urethral strictures underwent treatment with circumferential application of neodymium : YAG laser irradration to the scarred area after endoscopic cold urethrotomy.

There were no adverse effects and although one patient suffered recurrent stricture within 2 months, the postoperative results were good in all patients including recurrent case.

We reviewd our experience with neodymium : YAG laser treatment of benign urethral strictures.