Las Palmas, January 2025. Hospiten Roca, through its Urology Unit, has made progress in the surgical treatment of urethral stricture, using minimally invasive techniques that improve the quality of life of patients. Currently, these procedures have a success rate of 85-90%.
Urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra that hinders the passage of urine and severely affects the quality of life of those who suffer from it. This occurs due to the formation of scar tissue that reduces the diameter of the urethra.
Treatments available
Dr. Eduardo Barroso Deyne, a specialist in Urology, explains that the treatments for this situation are chosen according to the severity and characteristics of the patient. Although most cases require surgery, the procedures are performed from less invasive to more invasive. "The treatments offered are: periodic urethral dilatations; endoscopic urethrostomies; dilatations with Paclitaxel-releasing balloon (Optilume). These techniques are sometimes complemented with corticosteroid injections or regenerative agents, such as Mitomycin C, to avoid scar formation," he points out.
"Urethroplasty continues to be the Gold Standard technique, and should be performed by urologists who have experience in reconstructive surgery," he adds. In this regard, Dr. Barroso points out that, in addition, the use of flaps and especially buccal mucosa grafts in recent years are necessary tools to enlarge or replace the damaged urethral duct.
As for the causes that can lead to this condition, the specialist points out that the most common include: "injuries during medical procedures, such as the placement of catheters or surgery, trauma due to falls by straddling, pelvic fractures due to traffic accidents, sexually transmitted infections, inflammatory processes such as xerotic balanitis obliterans, congenital or others that we cannot identify," he notes.
"All these situations can cause damage to the urethral epithelium, which when scarring forms tissue that reduces its diameter and makes urination difficult," he adds.
Symptoms and diagnosis
For the diagnosis of urethral stricture, the Hospiten specialist points out that attention should be paid to the patient's clinical history. In this regard, Dr. Barroso points out that the most common symptoms in both men and women include: weak and thin urine stream, sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder, increased urinary frequency, or recurrent urinary infections. "Sometimes these changes are slow and may go unnoticed until the situation worsens severely," he says.
Therefore, being aware of these symptoms makes it possible to initiate tests and examinations as soon as possible to determine a correct diagnosis.
As part of the detection process, Dr. Barroso assures that there are different types of tests to confirm the diagnosis. On the one hand, physical examinations can reveal the presence of a bladder balloon, a very narrow or poorly positioned urethral meatus, or chronic inflammatory dermatological processes. "Non-invasive functional studies such as flowmetry can raise suspicions about the presence of an obstructive problem of a restrictive type," he stresses.
Along the same lines, the Hospiten specialist explains that retrograde and voiding urethrocystography "has been considered one of the most important and widely used tests, since it allows us to determine the location and length of the stricture, in addition to other associated alterations," he points out.
Risks of not treating stenosis
Dr. Barroso Deyne emphasizes that failure to treat urethral stricture in time can cause serious complications, such as: urinary retention that requires the placement of a catheter, urinary tract infections that can lead to sepsis, bladder stone formation or kidney damage that can lead to chronic renal failure.
Can urethral stricture be prevented?
To reduce the risk of developing this condition, avoid risky sexual intercourse to prevent infection, maintain good urination habits, such as urinating every 2-3 hours during the day, and consult a urologist if symptoms appear.
Currently, advances in tissue engineering are being developed to use stem cells and tissues to reconstruct the urethra.
About Hospiten
Hospiten is an international healthcare network with more than 55 years of experience committed to providing the highest quality service, with 20 private medical-hospital centers in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica and Panama, as well as 175 outpatient medical centers, under the Clinic Assist brand. Founded by Dr. Pedro Luis Cobiella, it annually attends more than two million patients from all over the world and has a staff of more than 5,000 people, a number that will be reinforced in the Community of Madrid thanks to the construction of a general university hospital in Boadilla del Monte, which is expected to be completed in 2026.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid - Hospiten is a subsidiary of the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (Texas, USA). With more than twenty years of history in our country, MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid - Hospiten is currently a subsidiary of the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (Texas, USA).
This article is an English translation generated with AI from the original Spanish content. While we review content for clarity, the information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment.