This treatment widens a narrowed section of the male urethra with a balloon coated in paclitaxel, a drug that limits scar regrowth. The balloon splits the scar, and the drug is absorbed into the urethral wall while the balloon stays inflated.
It aims to keep the channel open for longer than plain dilation or internal cutting, which fail in most men within a couple of years. Follow-up data currently extend to around 5 years, and open urethroplasty remains the most durable fix, particularly for long strictures.
What Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment for Urethral Stricture (Optilume) involves
The stricture is first mapped with a flow test, a contrast X-ray of the urethra (urethrogram) and cystoscopy to measure its position and length. Under sedation, spinal or general anaesthetic, a cystoscope is passed to the narrowing and a guidewire is fed through it into the bladder. The tight ring is pre-dilated with an uncoated balloon or a small cut so that the drug balloon can sit properly. The coated balloon, chosen at 24 or 30 French and long enough to cover the stricture with a margin, is positioned under vision and X-ray, inflated to its rated pressure and held for at least 5 minutes, sometimes 10. It is then deflated and removed, and a soft catheter is left for 2 to 5 days.
Who is a good candidate for Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment for Urethral Stricture (Optilume)?
Trials enrolled men with short, recurrent strictures of the front part of the urethra.
- Bulbar urethral strictures of up to about 3 cm
- Recurrence after one or more dilations or internal urethrotomies
- Men who wish to avoid or are unfit for open reconstruction
- Poor stream, straining, spraying or repeated infections with a confirmed stricture
- Selected bladder neck or join narrowings after prostate surgery, used off-label in some centres
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Long strictures, those in the penile urethra, or near-complete blockage, where urethroplasty is more reliable
- Strictures caused by lichen sclerosus along a long segment
- Men trying to conceive now: barrier contraception is advised for about 6 months, and condoms for 30 days, because paclitaxel appears in semen
- Active urinary infection
- Known allergy to paclitaxel
Technique options
- Drug-coated balloon dilation: The procedure described on this page.
- Plain dilation or direct vision internal urethrotomy: Simple, but recurrence is common, especially after the first attempt.
- Anastomotic urethroplasty: Cuts out a short bulbar stricture and rejoins the ends; success above 90 in 100.
- Buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty: Uses lining from inside the cheek for longer strictures.
- Intermittent self-dilation: Maintenance with a catheter, for men who accept it.
What happens during your treatment
It takes 20 to 40 minutes as a day case. You feel nothing during the procedure. You wake with a catheter attached to a leg bag or valve, and staff show you how to manage it before you leave.
Preparing for your trip
One session. Allow 5 to 7 days so that the work-up, the procedure and catheter removal with a flow test are all completed before you fly. Bring any previous urethrogram images and operation notes. Flow tests at 3, 6 and 12 months can be done by your urologist at home.
- Tell the doctor about medication, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any history of cold sores, keloid scars or autoimmune disease
- Avoid alcohol, aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers for a few days beforehand if your own doctor agrees, to reduce bruising
- Arrive without make-up on the treatment area and avoid sunbeds and strong sun for two weeks before
Recovery and results
Burning on passing urine, urgency and a little blood are common for 1 to 2 weeks. Avoid cycling and heavy straining for 2 weeks. Use condoms for 30 days, and reliable contraception for 6 months if your partner could become pregnant. Tell your urologist if the stream weakens again.
- Back to everyday activity: 2 to 3 days; catheter for 2 to 5 days
- When results show: Stream improves when the catheter comes out
- How long they last: About 2 in 3 men remain free of re-treatment at 3 years or more
Safety, risks and revision policy
Side effects are mostly mild and short-lived.
- Urinary infection
- Bleeding or clot retention
- Pain or burning on urination for some weeks
- Recurrence of the stricture; in trials roughly 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 men needed another treatment within 3 to 5 years
- Temporary urgency or leakage
- Unknown effects beyond the current length of follow-up
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment for Urethral Stricture (Optilume) in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment for Urethral Stricture (Optilume), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- The drug-coated balloon device, which is the main expense
- Anaesthesia and day-case theatre time
- Urethrogram, cystoscopy and flow tests before and after
- Catheter care and any repeat procedure
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this better than urethroplasty?
No. Urethroplasty has higher long-term success. The balloon is less invasive and suits short recurrent bulbar strictures or men who do not want open surgery.
Does the drug affect the rest of my body?
Blood levels are very low and brief. The main precaution concerns semen, hence the advice on condoms and contraception.
What happens if it fails?
A repeat balloon or a urethroplasty can still be performed. Ask the urologist whether earlier balloon treatment would complicate later reconstruction in your particular case.