European experience with the urethral Wallstent for urethral strictures.

We describe the use of the urethral Wallstent in 71 patients with urethral strictures. The stainless steel stent is self expanding when released from its endoscopic introducer. The results over a 3-year period have been good with only mild discomfort and slight urethral leakage for up to 3 months. Migration, infection and encrustation have not been a problem and serial endoscopic review shows healing to be variable but complete in up to 12 months. It is considered that this simple endoscopic technique offers a simple, safe and effective alternative to multiple dilatations, urethrotomies and urethroplasty procedures in patients with bulbar urethral strictures.