Outcome of urethral strictures managed by general surgeons in a rural setting of India.

In resource limited settings victims of urethral strictures often seek healthcare,when the strictures are far advanced. For a surgeon, management is indeed a challenging task, given the severity and extent of disease, lack of expertise, enough skills and equipment in the healthcare facility. This study was conducted at a rural teaching hospital in central India. All patients were assessed for the extent and severity of strictures and to rule out other causes of lower urinary obstruction. Outcome of all patients was assessed with American Urological Association Urinary Symptom Score and Urinary Flow Rate (ml/sec) before procedure, post procedure and at 6-12 months. Between 2007 and 2009, 110 patients, between 18-75 years of age were enrolled in this study which showed that a third of patients treated with urethral dilatation and optical internal urethrotomy required another intervention. It is conclude that urethral dilatation and internal optical dilatation result in short term improvement in urine flow rates and symptoms. Urethroplasty, the current gold standard of therapy for urethral strictures, results in outcomes that are clinically meaningful and more cost effective for a patient. The Americal Urological Association (AUA) symptom score and Urinarry Flow Ratemay be used to objectively assess outcome following surgical management of urethral strictures.