Practices in urethral stricture management with drug-coated balloon dilatation: an international survey
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) urethral dilatation which offers an alternative to standard endoscopic treatments of male anterior urethral stricture disease (AUSD). Its ease of delivery has facilitated its use by urologists with various subspecialty interests. The objective of this study was to characterise real-world practice patterns of a DCB device. METHODS: users via national and international urological societies and device distributor mailing lists. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: N = 102 urologists responded to the survey of whom n = 47 (46%) were reconstructive subspecialists. DCB dilatation was predominantly performed under general anaesthesia (n = 59, 58%). Significant variation was seen with catheter duration, perioperative antibiotic use and post-procedure contraception advice. Off-label use was common with respondents offering DCB for penile urethral strictures (65%), primary treatment (64%) and bladder neck stenoses (65%). Higher-volume users (≥ 10/year) were more likely to perform DCB under flexible cystoscopy (OR 5.14, 95% 1.57-16.79, p = 0.007), bladder neck stricture (OR 4.66, 95% CI 1.55-14.03, p = 0.006), and for recurrences (OR 6.92, 95% CI 2.22-21.6, p = 0.001). Limited practitioner experience, an evidence gap, and the importance of shared decision making were highlighted on thematic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an insight into the early experience a novel DCB among practicing urologists. Further research is required to optimize patient selection, procedural protocols and the understanding of long-term outcomes.
Source: World Journal of Urology
Authors: Diarmuid D. Sugrue, John O’Connor, Łukasz Białek, Francesco Chierigo, Mikołaj Frankiewicz, François Xavier Madec, Behzad Abbasi, Leonidas Karapanos, Jakob Klemm, Mattia Lo Re, Juan Diego Tinajero, Jordán Scherñuk, Guglielmo Mantica, Paul Neuville, Maciej Oszczudłowski, Wesley Verla, Malte W. Vetterlein, Niall F Davis, Felix Campos-Juanatey, Elaine J. Redmond
Institutions: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Cork University Hospital, University of Milan, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, Gdańsk Medical University, University of California, San Francisco, Klinikum Leverkusen, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, University of Genoa, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Lyon Sud, Ghent University Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Universidad de Cantabria, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University College Cork
Language: English
Subfield: Urology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,390
OpenAlex ID: W7151263404