A new treatment for urethral strictures.

A urethral stent, originally developed for endovascular use, was implanted into eight patients with urethral strictures after experimental studies in the canine urethra. The stent is woven in the form of a tubular mesh from surgical grade stainless steel wire and is self-expanding when released from its small-diameter delivery catheter. At follow-up 6 months to 1 year postoperatively (mean 8 months) all had a good calibre urethra. Urethroscopy showed complete epithelial covering of the implant at 4-6 months.