Notification

Error

Optilume Stricture Treatment

Email this conversation Print this conversation
User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 15:50

As I've previously discussed in my main thread, following RARP in 2017 I developed a stricture. I had it dilated in 2020 and have self catherterised regularly ever since. Following a chat with the specialist Andrology Nurse recently I will be screened for suitability for the Optilume procedure which has recently become available in my area and is now fairly widely used in the NHS.

Has anyone here had the procedure? Im looking for feedback back from men who have had it done please.

Cheers

Bill

 

 

Edited by member 03 Nov 2025 at 06:09  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 05 Nov 2025 at 06:06

Hi Adrian, thanks for the link. The report is from 2021 and Optilume has become more widely used since then although I have found no other information on other trials but the fact that it's wider use in the NHS is as a result of this trial is positive.

It seems no posters on here have had the procedure.

I intend to go ahead with it if offered after screening and will update here for those who are interested.

Cheers

Bill

 

Edited by member 05 Nov 2025 at 06:06  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 11 Feb 2026 at 20:32

I had the Optilume procedure for a urethral stricture at the beginning of this week under GA.

In first thing and out by lunch time with pain killers. No catheter. Minimal disconfert but for less than 48 hours. No pain killers next day. no more self catherterising if it works. So far so good but time will tell.

Cheers Bill

User
Posted 03 Nov 2025 at 08:48

Hi, Bill.

I've no personal experience of the procedure, mate. However this link does contain lots of information on Optilume. Including expert opinion and a bit of research on its efficiency.

https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/mib241

 

User
Posted 11 Feb 2026 at 20:49

Hi Bill. I am pleased to hear the procedure went well. I had my Urethral dilation for strictures Jan 2025 but Optilume wasn't available. Despite self catheterising weekly, the flow isn't what it was 12 months ago. It's not yet causing me any problems but I suspect I will eventually need a repeat procedure. Hopefully Optilume will be available in my NHS Trust by that time. Please keep us posted on how things go.

User
Posted 12 Feb 2026 at 07:31

Hi Bill

Thanks for the update and fingers crossed that the procedure works.

Interesting that you came out with no catheter. All the accounts that I've read so far (all from the USA I think) have involved having catheters afterwards for varying periods. Being able to forgo this would be another bonus.

Best wishes for the future. Keep us posted.

Kevin

 

User
Posted 20 Feb 2026 at 08:15

Hi Bill

Thanks for the update, glad to hear that it went well and gives us all a bit of hope for a longer term solution. I’m still self catheterising every other day, have a meeting with the consultant next week and so will mention Optilume again. 

User
Posted 20 May 2026 at 18:16

Hi Bill. Sorry to hear the procedure did mot go as planned. When you head down the prostate cancer pathway not everyone  has the outcomes they hoped for. There are many stories on here that are testament to that. I hope you have better luck with the urethraplasty. 

User
Posted 20 May 2026 at 19:26

Sorry to hear that Bill.

Was it implied that the self-dilating had actually in itself reduced the chances of optilume success, e.g. by introducing more scarring ?

(I have actually now done 4.5 years of self-dilation so that could be bad news for me!)

Good luck with the repeat optilume - keep us posted.

Kevin

User
Posted 21 May 2026 at 07:51

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Sorry to hear that Bill.

Was it implied that the self-dilating had actually in itself reduced the chances of optilume success, e.g. by introducing more scarring ?

(I have actually now done 4.5 years of self-dilation so that could be bad news for me!)

Good luck with the repeat optilume - keep us posted.

Kevin

Hi Kevin

This is part of what AI said

"self-catheterization can sometimes cause the scar tissue to grow much deeper into the surrounding erectile tissue (the corpus spongiosum). If the fibrosis is deeper or longer than what the balloon could completely encompass and disrupt, the untreated, deep-layer scar tissue will instantly restrict the urethra the moment the catheter is removed. [1, 2, 3, 4]"

Cheers

Bill

User
Posted 21 May 2026 at 08:05

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I'm a bit gutted really. I'll see what happens with the repeat and go from there.

Hi, Bill.

Sorry, that things didn't go to plan. I hope it's a better outcome second time round. 🤞

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 03 Nov 2025 at 08:48

Hi, Bill.

I've no personal experience of the procedure, mate. However this link does contain lots of information on Optilume. Including expert opinion and a bit of research on its efficiency.

https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/mib241

 

User
Posted 05 Nov 2025 at 06:06

Hi Adrian, thanks for the link. The report is from 2021 and Optilume has become more widely used since then although I have found no other information on other trials but the fact that it's wider use in the NHS is as a result of this trial is positive.

It seems no posters on here have had the procedure.

I intend to go ahead with it if offered after screening and will update here for those who are interested.

Cheers

Bill

 

Edited by member 05 Nov 2025 at 06:06  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 11 Feb 2026 at 20:32

I had the Optilume procedure for a urethral stricture at the beginning of this week under GA.

In first thing and out by lunch time with pain killers. No catheter. Minimal disconfert but for less than 48 hours. No pain killers next day. no more self catherterising if it works. So far so good but time will tell.

Cheers Bill

User
Posted 11 Feb 2026 at 20:49

Hi Bill. I am pleased to hear the procedure went well. I had my Urethral dilation for strictures Jan 2025 but Optilume wasn't available. Despite self catheterising weekly, the flow isn't what it was 12 months ago. It's not yet causing me any problems but I suspect I will eventually need a repeat procedure. Hopefully Optilume will be available in my NHS Trust by that time. Please keep us posted on how things go.

User
Posted 12 Feb 2026 at 07:31

Hi Bill

Thanks for the update and fingers crossed that the procedure works.

Interesting that you came out with no catheter. All the accounts that I've read so far (all from the USA I think) have involved having catheters afterwards for varying periods. Being able to forgo this would be another bonus.

Best wishes for the future. Keep us posted.

Kevin

 

User
Posted 20 Feb 2026 at 08:15

Hi Bill

Thanks for the update, glad to hear that it went well and gives us all a bit of hope for a longer term solution. I’m still self catheterising every other day, have a meeting with the consultant next week and so will mention Optilume again. 

User
Posted 20 May 2026 at 17:46

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I had the Optilume procedure for a urethral stricture at the beginning of this week under GA.

In first thing and out by lunch time with pain killers. No catheter. Minimal disconfert but for less than 48 hours. No pain killers next day. no more self catherterising if it works. So far so good but time will tell.

Cheers Bill

Update for anyone who may be interested. 

Im one of a small percentage that the procedure didnt work at all for. The stricture returned back as it was within a week of the procedure. I discussed this with my Uro today and we will have another go. AI says that after six years self catherterising and Optilume failure so quickly that the scare tissue may be to deep for the Pacitaxel to penetrate. Uro thinks worth another try and will book me in. He also offered to refer me for open urethraplasty using the cheek skin graft method.

I'm a bit gutted really. I'll see what happens with the repeat and go from there.

Cheers

Bill

User
Posted 20 May 2026 at 18:16

Hi Bill. Sorry to hear the procedure did mot go as planned. When you head down the prostate cancer pathway not everyone  has the outcomes they hoped for. There are many stories on here that are testament to that. I hope you have better luck with the urethraplasty. 

User
Posted 20 May 2026 at 18:24

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi Bill. Sorry to hear the procedure did mot go as planned. When you head down the prostate cancer pathway not everyone  has the outcomes they hoped for. There are many stories on here that are testament to that. I hope you have better luck with the urethraplasty. 

Thanks Chris

BTW. Im trying a repeat Optilume first

Cheers

Bill

User
Posted 20 May 2026 at 19:26

Sorry to hear that Bill.

Was it implied that the self-dilating had actually in itself reduced the chances of optilume success, e.g. by introducing more scarring ?

(I have actually now done 4.5 years of self-dilation so that could be bad news for me!)

Good luck with the repeat optilume - keep us posted.

Kevin

User
Posted 21 May 2026 at 07:51

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Sorry to hear that Bill.

Was it implied that the self-dilating had actually in itself reduced the chances of optilume success, e.g. by introducing more scarring ?

(I have actually now done 4.5 years of self-dilation so that could be bad news for me!)

Good luck with the repeat optilume - keep us posted.

Kevin

Hi Kevin

This is part of what AI said

"self-catheterization can sometimes cause the scar tissue to grow much deeper into the surrounding erectile tissue (the corpus spongiosum). If the fibrosis is deeper or longer than what the balloon could completely encompass and disrupt, the untreated, deep-layer scar tissue will instantly restrict the urethra the moment the catheter is removed. [1, 2, 3, 4]"

Cheers

Bill

User
Posted 21 May 2026 at 08:05

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I'm a bit gutted really. I'll see what happens with the repeat and go from there.

Hi, Bill.

Sorry, that things didn't go to plan. I hope it's a better outcome second time round. 🤞

 
Forum Jump  
Email this conversation Print this conversation

Join the online community now.

Click through to become a member and gain access to support, information and real time replies.




MenuTop ▲
©2026 Prostate Cancer UK