Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous publications confirmed that after internal urethrotomy success rates in the short-term (less than 6 months) are varied (70-80%) and in the long-term results are generally low. In this study, the efficacy of triamcinolone instillation based on a newly introduced protocol on the rate of recurrence in patients with anterior urethral strictures was evaluated. METHODS: A total of 66 patients were divided into treatment group (n = 33), in which triamcinolone was instilled on urethra after removing of Foley catheter and control group (n = 33) that not received any intervention. Each 40 mg/1 ml of triamcinolone vial was dissolved in 9 ml of distilled water and then a 2 ml of diluted solution was used for each instillation and 8 ml was kept in 4°C. Triamcinolone was instilled based on daily in week 1, every other day for week 2 and then every Monday and Friday for 2 months. Penile clamp was used after instillation for 1 hour. Treatment failure was based on urine flow rate, rate of recurrence and time to appearance of recurrence. RESULTS: There were not any significant differences regrading to age (p = 0.09), length (p = 0.41) and diameter (p = 0.36) of stricture between 2 groups. Time to appearance of recurrence showed significantly in the treatment group when compared with that in the control group (1,350 ± 900 vs. 124.3 ±112 days; p < 0.01). In the treatment group, 88% had reasonable consequence, while in control 48%. There were 3 patients with a mean length-diameter of stricture around 0.3-5 cm who showed recurrence free with the mean of 720 days after intervention. CONCLUSION: Administration of triamcinolone instillation in urethra is associated with a decreased risk of stricture recurrence. Superior outcomes were seen in patients with a stricture length of more than 2 cm and this may in part reflect the increasing efficacy of the instillation method in the management of urethral strictures. These findings help identify patients with aggressive features of strictures in urethra who may benefit from intensified treatment efficacy of triamcinolone instillation.