Optilume® is an innovative and minimally invasive treatment designed to address urethral strictures. Urethral strictures occur when the urethra—the tube that carries urine from the bladder to elimination outside the body—becomes scarred and blocked. 

The Optilume® procedure uses a drug-coated “balloon” to dilate the narrowed area and transfers a chemical coating to the scarred tissue, significantly reducing the likelihood of stricture recurrence.

Optilume® treats urethral strictures, which are scarred, narrowed, and blocked areas of the urethra. The urethra is a muscular tube-like structure that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It’s an integral part of the urinary system.

In males, the urethra runs through the center of the penis. It consists of the prostatic urethra, the membranous urethra, and the penile (spongy) urethra. 

• The prostatic urethra passes through the prostate gland.
• The membranous urethra is a short segment that passes through the pelvic floor muscles.
• The penile urethra runs through the length of the penis. 

In females, the urethra is shorter and located between the clitoris and the vaginal opening. It’s surrounded by spongy tissue that sits against the pubic bone and vaginal wall, called the urethral sponge.

The urethral sphincter is a muscular ring that surrounds the urethra and helps control the flow and release of urine. As a whole, the anatomy of the urethra is complex, especially in males. Any damage or blockage to it can result in various urological problems.

Urethral strictures occur when scar tissue narrows or blocks the urethra in some way. This condition can lead to various uncomfortable and potentially severe symptoms.

Urethral stricture is a condition that is characterized by the narrowing of the urethra. The signs and symptoms of urethral stricture can vary from person to person. Symptoms can include:

• Difficulty starting urination
• Weak urine stream
• Frequent urination
• Dribbling of urine after urination 
• Pain or burning during urination
• Urinary tract infections
• Blood in urine
• Split stream

In severe cases, the urethra can become completely blocked, leading to acute urinary retention that demands urgent medical attention. Some men may experience sexual dysfunction, such as difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection or painful ejaculation, due to urethral stricture.

Optilume® is a quick and minimally invasive treatment that typically takes less than 30 minutes. Here's what you can expect:

1. Local anesthesia is administered for your comfort.
2. A thin, flexible tube with a small balloon on the end is inserted into the urethra.
3. The balloon is coated with a medicine called paclitaxel.
4. When the balloon reaches the narrowed area, it's inflated. This stretches the urethra, making it wider so urine can easily pass through.
5. As the balloon inflates, it presses the medicine against the walls of the urethra.
6. The medicine helps prevent scar tissue from forming again, which is what usually causes the narrowing stricture to come back.
7. After a short time, the balloon is deflated and removed.
8. A catheter is left in place for three days. After the catheter is removed, the drug remains in the tissue, preventing future stricture recurrence.

Our doctors at Z Urology are here to help you before, during, and after this procedure. If you have any questions or concerns at all, contact our office for support at (954) 714-8200.

One of the advantages of Optilume is its quick recovery time. The main recovery is from the three days of the Foley catheter.  Most patients can return home the same day and resume normal activities within a few days. You might experience some mild discomfort or increased urinary frequency initially once the catheter is removed, but these symptoms typically resolve quickly.

Because Optilume® is a minimally invasive procedure, there’s less damage to the tissues surrounding the urethral strictures. It has revolutionized the treatment for urethral strictures because other treatments have been fraught with complications.

 For example, optical internal urethrotomy (OIU) is when the stricture via a telescope (cystoscopy)  is cut with a knife or a laser. This treatment has nearly a 100% recurrence rate. 

Urethroplasty is a major invasive operation to cut out the diseased stricture segment of the urethra and either reconnect tissue or create a new tube using tissue from your mouth or foreskin. This surgery is very painful and has a six-week recovery. 

It is apparent that Optilume—being a minimally invasive procedure with quick recovery and high cure rates—would be preferable to most patients. 

Benefits are:

• Reduced risk of stricture recurrence
• Faster recovery time compared to traditional surgeries
• Less pain and discomfort 
• Fewer risks of complications 
• Outpatient procedure with minimal downtime
• Long-lasting results