Urethral Stricture

Pelvis | Urology | Urethral Stricture (Disease)


Description

Urethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder (urethra). Urethral strictures have repercussions on the upper urinary tract, in various degrees depending on the time to detection of the causative stricture.

Strictures can be: congenital; inflammatory; traumatic; iatrogenic; unknown. Patients symptoms are extremely varied, from simple to complex sometimes dramatic. The evolution can lead to complications. Among the most important infectious complications are: periurethral; prostatitis; epididymitis; pyelonephritis.

Urethral strictures occur due to different causes and can cause a variety of manifestations, from asymptomatic presentation to severe discomfort secondary urine retention.

Causes and Risk factors

Urethral stricture can be caused by: (1) Injury or damage to the urethra can heal with scar tissue that may cause a stricture; (2) Infection of the urethra is another cause (from sexually transmitted infections, infection as a complication of long-term use of a catheter to drain the bladder), (3) Congenital (some babies are born with the disease); (4) Cancer.

Urethral strictures can cause urinary problems, including some cases total inability to urinate.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Establishing effective drainage of the bladder can be a challenge and a complete understanding of anatomy and bladder technology is essential.

A urinary tract infection is frequently present before or at diagnosis. Antibiotics, quinolones class or a combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole are usually indicated in the first stage of treatment. Occasionally there is a degree of improvement of urinary flow, depending on the severity of the stricture, after antibiotic treatment due to reduced urethral inflammation. ...