The Urolume as a means of treating urinary outflow obstruction and its impact on waiting lists.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the prostatic stenting device--the Urolume--both in terms of relief from urinary outflow obstruction and as a means of reducing waiting lists. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 70 men from the long-term waiting list were chosen for this study. The Urolume, a mesh tube of biomedical superalloy, was successfully introduced in 60 of these patients. The majority had the procedure performed as a day case, under a general anaesthetic. RESULTS: Seventy-two per cent of patients were symptomatically better when assessed at 6 weeks and their mean peak urinary flow rates had doubled. Early problems included haematuria, urge incontinence and dysuria. Stent displacement necessitating removal occurred in 10 patients. CONCLUSION: This technique offers the surgeon a quick and atraumatic method of relieving urinary outflow obstruction. There are, however, a number of problems associated with this technique which will probably be overcome by modification to the Urolume. As a result of our project, the waiting time for prostatic surgery was reduced from 3 years to under 2 years.