Evaluation of Holmium Laser versus Cold Knife in Optical Internal Urethrotomy for the Management of Urethral Stricture

Abstract

Abstract Background : urethral stricture is one of the most difficult urological problems to cure adequately and is know to mankind since ages as it has been documented in ancient literature of Egyptians and Greeks. Aim of the work: the aim of our study is to evaluate and compare the outcomes of Ho:YAG laser urethrotomy with the conventional cold knife technique as regards treatment outcome, efficacy and complications Patients and methods: A total of 20 male patients presented to the urology department at El Maadi military hospital and Ain shams university hospitals diagnosed as urethral stricture requiring optical internal urethrotomy were included in this study. Patients were randomized into two groups : In group A (holmium group): 10 patients underwent internal urethrotomy with Holmium laser. In group B (cold knife group) 10 patients underwent internal urethrotomy with cold knife. Results: based upon uroflowmetry, assessment of treatment effectiveness and complications were made at 3 months follow-up. Post operative fall in the peak flow rate was noted during the follow up in both groups, but was highter fall in the holmium group than the cold knife group at the end of the third month.