Groundbreaking Urethral Stricture Study Seeks Improvement in Urinary Flow

UW Medicine’s trauma and reconstructive urologist, Dr. Judith Hagedorn, is making a huge impact for patients who suffer from significant symptoms of stricture. The Department of Urology at UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center has a high-volume reconstructive practice and has been a key player in the multi-center trial, Urotronic Robust III, to help alleviate the painful, most likely endless process her patients with urethral strictures face.

The Department of Urology at UWMC has a high-volume reconstructive practice and has been a key player in this multi-center trial, which is the first of its kind. The study aims to change the way patients receive treatment for urethral strictures by offering a minimally invasive procedure which is shown to prevent scar formation, in the form of a Drug Coated Balloon (DCB) delivery system.

Once approved, this short, endoscopic procedure requires no incision and allows patients to go home the same day, but the key is the DCB’s use of Paclitaxel, which is coated around the balloon and has the ability to slow or even stop the development of scar tissue that causes urethral strictures to begin with. Once inflated, the crystals sit on the stricture or tissue until they are locally absorbed, preventing recurrence or scarring.

Patients who have had two prior urethral dilations or Direct Vision Internal Urethrotomy (DVIU) of the stricture are eligible for the procedure, taking their third procedure success rate from zero to 80% after the first year.

Dr. Hagedorn’s hope is that this procedure is something that other clinicians can adopt into their practice as a potential option prior to the other, more invasive, treatment options patients currently have.