Efficacy and Safety of Optilume Drug-Coated Balloon for Urethral Stricture Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The Optilume drug-coated balloon (DCB) (North Plymouth, USA) is a novel treatment option for urethral stricture disease that combines mechanical dilation with localized delivery of paclitaxel, an antiproliferative drug aimed at reducing recurrence rates by inhibiting scar tissue formation. This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted using studies published in the last 10 years up to November 2024, assessed the efficacy and safety of Optilume DCB across seven studies involving 457 patients. Key outcomes included significant reductions in symptom scores, as measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and improvements in urinary flow rates (QMax). The recurrence-free rate was approximately 80.83%, suggesting that Optilume offers durable symptom relief. The complication rate, calculated as a weighted average across studies, was low at 9.5%, with most adverse events being mild and temporary, including dysuria and urinary tract infections. These findings support Optilume DCB as a promising minimally invasive alternative to standard treatments, offering durable outcomes with a favorable safety profile. Further randomized trials with longer follow-ups are recommended to confirm these benefits in diverse patient populations.

How to do a penile urethroplasty using a novel self-retaining penile retractor

Effective retraction and clear exposure of urethral tissue is essential in reconstructive penile surgery. The Joshi-Kulkarni retractor provides stable, bloodless operative exposure via non-traumatic tissue compression at the base of penis. The self-retaining design of this retractor also improves ergonomics thereby reducing surgeon fatigue. In this article, we describe how to do a penile urethroplasty by using the Joshi-Kulkarni penile retractor.

Male urethral stricture disease. Why management guidelines are challenging in low-income countries

Urethral stricture disease is one of the commonest urological pathologies in adult men in low or low-middle income countries, providing a significant work burden for the small number of specialist surgeons who are able to provide appropriate treatment. The underlying causes of anterior urethral stricture relate to urethral fibrosis from sexually transmitted infection, with posterior urethral disruption secondary to pelvic trauma being an equally common cause of stricture disease in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Anterior urethral strictures are often long, and multifocal, and bulbo-prostatic disruptions are usually due to relatively low-velocity pelvic trauma. The management options available in resource poor settings are often severely limited by the individual's ability to pay for care, the availability of a specialist surgeon and, importantly, a shortage of functioning endoscopic equipment for less-invasive treatments. Consequently, reconstructive surgery is often regarded by the patient, and surgeon, as the most cost-effective and, therefore, primary means of treating a urethral stricture once urethral dilatation has failed. Regional anaesthetic techniques have limited the adoption of free graft augmentation as an alternative to pedicled flaps of locally available skin for reconstruction, whilst an inability to provide tension-free bulbo-prostatic anastomoses has negatively impacted the outcome from the treatment of pelvic fracture disruption injuries in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Urolink has, however, found that local surgeons can be taught sustainable skills required for successful complex urethroplasty when supported by longitudinal mentorship in the management of difficult clinical issues. Evidence-based practice is known to improve the standard of care in specific conditions in high-income countries, including the management of male urethral stricture disease. However, guidelines developed in high-income countries aren't necessarily appropriate for stricture management in less well-resourced healthcare environments, but could be adapted to help improve the delivery of stricture care for men in low- or low-middle income countries.

Update on the management of penile and meatal strictures

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Treatment of penile and distal urethral strictures including the fossa navicularis and the meatus remains challenging due to their adverse etiology and lack of ventral tissue support. In this contemporary review, we summarize the available evidence and recent advancements in reconstructive techniques.

RECENT FINDINGS

Over the last years, several refinements of already established techniques have been added to the reconstructive armamentarium in the management of penile urethral strictures. These include the single-stage combination of flap and graft, the additional use of tissue glue, or an optimized single-stage tubularization using a free graft.

SUMMARY

There is a shift toward an increased use of single-stage procedures even in complex strictures of the penile and distal urethra. This is reflected by advancements and refinements in operative techniques. Nonetheless, staged urethroplasty remains a cornerstone of curative management in such patients with durable success rates. Future research should focus on identifying distinct patient and stricture characteristics to determine the individual therapeutic approach with optimal functional outcomes.