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New Urethral Stricture Treatment - Optilume

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Posted 4/25/2022 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I posted this on another board but feel that it may benefit those that have stricture here as well.



Recently FDA approved, Optilume is DCB (drug coated balloon) treatment of anterior urethral stricture.

The balloon is coated with Pa***axel, so I do not know if that will interfere with prostate cancer treatments or not.

It has not really been tried with RT induced urethral stricture though.

For people like me with RT induced membranous urethral stricture that was treated once with DVIU and the stricture is now back after three years, I am looking into a less invasive treatment (vs. urethroplasty).

Since it is new (approved Dec 2021 by FDA). I found a handful of videos on Youtube and few articles on the internet.

If you have info on Optilume, please share.

Thanks,

Akai
Posted 4/26/2022 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
I’ve never heard of this until now so thank you for bring this here. (Maybe some guys will have had some experience with it and chime in).

From just a cursory google reading, it absolutely sounds transformative.

Heaven knows this particular ailment is overdue for some advancement.
Posted 4/30/2022 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
I will read into this Akai. Sorry you got to deal with the strictures. Good luck old friend. Take care. -JR
Posted 11/27/2023 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Akai... it has been a while since you posted this. What is your update on the strictures or this new Optilume? I hope you are well. Thank you. -JR
Posted 12/22/2023 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
about six months ago I had balloon dilation and thus far it is holding up.
Doctor said he'd consider Optilume if it returns.
I'm almost shocked at how well my urinary tract is doing with just a dilation.
I'd been peeing huge clots and had constant hematuria. I was also very near full urinary retention.
Suppose I shouldn't complain but I am optimistic it may hold and glad there is Optilume if needed

Glen
Posted 12/23/2023 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
The one concern I have is the size of the stricture. I'm not clear exactly how long mine is but it's either at the limit or just over.
Dr Joice is the specialist and he seems to think that I am eligible.
The idea is sound as the coating prevents growth which can close off the area of stricture.
Best case is that it's not needed.

Glen
Posted 1/12/2024 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Had hematuria again for a couple of days.
A few void's had clots so I'm a little concerned.
I have a video meeting with Dr Joice in March.
This doctor is in great demand.
I'm okay now but I'd like to be close to an appointment if I start getting close to retention again.
Hate this sword hanging over my head

Glen
Posted 1/13/2024 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I've been reading about the Optilume procedure, and it looks much better than traditional methods used to dilate the urethral stricture. However, the articles only address anterior strictures and not posterior. One of the articles I read showed equal efficacy for radiation-caused strictures so I that gave me further hope. My stricture has not significantly affected my ability to empty my bladder and my urine stream is still ok. However, I have had slight irritation while urinating for months and that is what led me to my urologist. During the cystoscopy, he had difficulty reaching the bladder without hurting me, so he told me he would rather do it under anesthesia and balloon dilate me then. That prompted me to look into things and I found the Optilume procedure's superiority over what he was advocating. Drug-eluting stents for angioplasty is much more effective than bare metal stents to keep the coronary arteries open so this made perfect sense to me. The problem I have is finding a convenient site to have it done and whether posterior strictures are amenable to this form of treatment.
Swan, where is Dr. Joice located?
Paul

Post Edited (PDL17) : 1/13/2024 6:41:14 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 1/13/2024 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
After 15 years of Pca I am now have a stricture diagnosis along with hydronephrosis. I spent time in the ER before and after Christmas, and that is never fun. So now I will have surgery to help determine what is causing both problems. It has now been over two weeks with a catheter and in 2 weeks they will put another one in, to keep until the surgery. So I am studying up on stricture treatment and hydronephrosis tx. Ugh.
Michael
Posted 1/14/2024 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Dr Joice is with NY Presbyterian
Posted 1/14/2024 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
That's in New York City but he's got a office in Tarrytown NY north about twenty miles.
He is in great demand and mind you NY Presbyterian has a boatload of urologists.
Have to wait months just for a video visit.
BTW I'm thinking my last hematuria issue was a infected because I was also feeling under the weather for a few days

Glen
Posted 1/18/2024 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
PDL17
You made me think about stents when you mentioned them for the veins, I thought Hmmm why not a stent for the urethra? Maybe the acidic nature of urine may erode a metal stent? Just guessing but I would add that I doubt the Paxel drug will harm other treatments since it was discovered to treat cancer-breast I think.

I am doing well but will keep my video visit just in case. I really think the latest bout of hematuria was a UTI because I felt like crap and usually stricture related hematuria is without feeling bad

Glen
Posted 1/23/2024 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Paul I might add that my regular urologist did a scope and stopped at the stricture which was at the bulbar urethra. He did not want to irritate the area.
The dilation was no big deal because we just go to sleep. the profolol for some reason burned like heck! they say that can happen but this was the first time (so many procedures and surgeries!)
BTW the irritation upon urination never went away but I am used to it.
fingers crossed that I do not need the Optilume

Glen
Posted 2/24/2024 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
My concept of time is messed up.
I checked when I had the dilation and March 17th will be a year!
Wow! I'm voiding well and rarely have hematuria so maybe it's cured.
Happy to have Optilume as a backup but I hope I'll not need it.
Yea!

Glen
Posted 2/24/2024 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Glen, that is very good news.
Michael
Posted 2/24/2024 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes thank you
Posted 3/2/2024 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
I see Dr Joice Wednesday via a zoom meeting
I just want to get his thoughts on Optilume treatment
Since I'm holding up well I figured it makes sense to do video call rather than face to face
I'm grateful the dilation is still holding up.

Glen
Posted 3/10/2024 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Zoom meeting was okay.
Doctor said he is going to keep the Optilume on the back burner until I need it.


Glen
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