Intra-urethral catheter (IUC) in the treatment InItnratr-ua-ruerthetrharl acla cthatehterte (rI U(IUC)C i)ni nth teh ter etraetmatemnetnt Intra-urethral catheter (IUC) in the treatment of prostatic obstruction ofo pfr porsotastiact iocb osbtrsutrcuticotnion of prostatic obstruction Introduction Introduction

Introduction Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is still the gold standard and most widely accepted treatment for clinically significant obstruction of urinary flow. PostTURP mortality is low but morbidity is not insignificant. Common complications include urinary infection, epididymitis, impotence, incontinence and the need for transfusions. Furthermore, outcome studies reveal that about 20% of patients fail to achieve improvement in their voiding symptoms following prostatectomy and 15% of patients require reoperation for stricture, bladder neck contracture, recurrent ‘prostatism’ or other problems within 8 years of surgery.1 These factors have fuelled the search for less-invasive and non-surgical treatments. The different treatment modalities may be temporary or become permanent, according to whether the patient will be viable or not fit for surgery. In the last decade the non-surgical armamentarium has grown tremendously with hyperthermia, balloon dilatation and pharmacological treatment, to mention just a few. Intraurethral spirals or catheters, first described by Fabian2,3