To introduce the experiences in the management of anterior urethral stricture with balloon dilation.

The data of 44 male patients with anterior urethral stricture underwent dilation with balloon dilator (24 F, balloon length 15 cm, BARD, Covington, USA) from January 2018 to April 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University were analyzed. The patients mean age was (51±16) years. The causes of urethral stricture were trauma (n=15, 34.1%), iatrogenic injury (n=23, 52.3%), urethritis (n=5, 11.3%), and congenital malformation (n=1, 2.3%). The estimated urethral stricture length was (1.0-9.5) cm. To evaluate the effect of balloon dilation of anterior urethral stricture by comparing preoperative and postoperative IPSS, QOL, RUV, Q_max at 12 months after surgery.

Balloon dilation of urethral strictures was successfully performed in all patients. The mean operation time was (26±15) min. The follow-up time was 12-43 months. There were significant improvements in the IPSS [(27±7) vs (14±9)], QOL [(5.0±1.0) vs (2.4±1.1)], RUV [50(5, 127) ml vs 11(2, 35) ml], and Q_max [(5.2±2.3) ml/s vs (17.9±6.8) ml/s] (P all<0.05). The patient with the history of hypospadias was not satisfied with the outcomes and received other intervention, the other patients feel satisfied with the condition.

Balloon dilation can improve the quality of life for patients with locally scattered, short segment, and mild anterior urethral stricture.