Urethral Stenting

A procedure in which a diseased portion of the urethra is bridged with a wire-mesh spring expandable device to maintain the luminal integrity of the urthera. The most common disease condition which we treat with urethral stents is for tumor obstruction. The most common tumor obstruction is from transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Malignant obstructions of the urethra can cause severe discomfort, painful and/or bloody urination and eventually urinary obstruction. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy has been successful in slowing tumor growth but complete cure is uncommon. When signs of obstruction occur, more aggressive therapy is indicated. Placement of self-expanding metallic stents using fluoroscopic guidance through a transurethral approach can be a reliable, and safe alternative to establish urethral patency in both males and females with a greater than 95% good to excellent palliative outcome. Urethral stenting may also be useful in patients with benign urethral strictures (from stones or catheterizations), or reflex dysynnergia, when traditional therapies have failed or when surgery is refused or not indicated. Stents are a palliative approach to a conditions without the need for sophisticated, salvage surgical procedures.