Background: Anterior urethral stricture disease is a common urological condition that causes lower urinary tract obstruction and significantly affects patients’ quality of life. Direct Vision Internal Urethrotomy (DVIU) is a widely performed minimally invasive treatment; however, recurrence remains a major limitation. Identifying factors associated with recurrence is essential for appropriate patient selection and optimizing long-term outcomes.
Aim: To evaluate the predictors of recurrence following Direct Vision Internal Urethrotomy in patients with anterior urethral stricture disease.
Materials and Methods: This hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Urology, Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Kalaburagi, from January 2020 to June 2020. A total of 50 adult male patients with anterior urethral stricture disease undergoing DVIU were enrolled. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, stricture aetiology, site, length, previous urethral interventions, and associated risk factors were recorded. Patients were followed at regular intervals after surgery to assess recurrence. The reappearance of obstructive urinary symptoms with radiological or endoscopic evidence of recurrent stricture or the need for repeat intervention defined recurrence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Variables associated with recurrence were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The majority of patients were aged 41–50 years (32.0%), and idiopathic strictures (36.0%) were the most common etiology. Bulbar urethral strictures accounted for 72.0% of cases, while 48.0% of patients had strictures measuring 1–2 cm. The overall recurrence rate following DVIU was 32.0%. Patients with stricture length >2 cm, penile urethral strictures, and a history of previous urethral instrumentation had significantly higher recurrence rates (p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified these variables as independent predictors of recurrence. A significant improvement in postoperative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was observed following DVIU.
Conclusion: Direct Vision Internal Urethrotomy provides effective short-term relief in patients with anterior urethral stricture disease; however, recurrence remains frequent. Stricture length greater than 2 cm, penile urethral location, and previous urethral instrumentation are significant predictors of recurrence. Careful patient selection, appropriate counseling, and consideration of early urethroplasty in high-risk patients may improve long-term treatment outcomes.