Evaluation of cold knife urethrotomy for the treatment of anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of cold knife urethrotomy for anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We contacted all patients who underwent cold knife urethrotomy for a symptomatic anastomotic stricture from May 1, 1992 through January 1, 2000 at our institution. A control group of patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy but did not complain of a decreased urine stream was similarly evaluated. Maximum urinary flow rate, post-void residual urine volume, American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and continence status with a questionnaire adapted from the RAND-University of California-Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index were determined in each study participant.
RESULTS: We identified and contacted 61 patients. Complete data were collected on 36 of the 52 patients (59%) who agreed to participate. Mean time after urethrotomy was 31 months (range 1 to 77). In the control group the mean time after prostatectomy was 18.6 months (range 3 to 95). There was no statistically significant difference in the measured urinary parameters of maximum flow rate, post-void residual urine volume, AUA symptom index or continence status in the study and control groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Cold knife urethrotomy provides a safe and effective response for the initial treatment of patients with anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy. Maximum urinary flow, post-void residual volume, AUA symptom score and perceptions of continence are similar to those in patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy and had no complaints of a weak urine stream.