Hi, Paul....
When you have the prostatectomy, the surgeon reattaches the urethra to the
bladder neck once the prostate is out.  Sometimes, in the healing process,
excess scar tissue builds up at the point where this reattachment is done,
and it can cause a narrowing of the urethra..... thus causing problems
urinating.
Sometimes the doc will go in with a cystoscope and use and instrument to try
and stretch the section where the narrowing is.  If this doesn't work, he
may go in and actually snip away bits of the scar tissue or burn it away
with a laser.... but it's all done through a cystoscopic type device.... no
incisions.
I suppose you could have epidural anesthesia, but I don't think you would
need to be put to sleep very deeply for this simple procedure, so some
intravenous anesthesia to knock you out might be enough.  It's an
out-patient procedure in most all cases..... go home the same day.... You
will have the cath again for a few days.
Sometimes, the scar tissue will re-form and the procedure will have to be
repeated, but eventually, it is corrected.
There are others here who have had the procedure done, so I'm sure they can
give you more info.  Hope this helps!

Take care!
MikeH

It depends how tight the stricture is. The one I developed after high dose
internal radiation eventually became so tight, that I had to go under
general anesthesia just to complete the cystoscopy, As a result of what they
saw through the cystoscope, they immediately did a TURP. Now I have flow
again, but two months later, I am still dripping. I am hoping it improves
more; still dripping is a lot better than having to self cath all the time,
an both conditions are better then being dead.

Hello Paul...

MH gave an excellent response to your request....I will add that I had the
procedure done 5 times for "scarring"....The doctor tried once at his office
to break the scar with the Cythoscope, but he could not do it (It was a very
painful experience)....that night, I had to go to the hospital for an
emergency scar removal operation since the previous try with the Cyt caused
a major trauma to the area of the scar....

I was put to sleep every time I had the procedure done...there is no way I
would have done it any other way !!

So far, the last procedure was done about 4 years ago and it looks like it
was the last one !!...

Any other question, I would be happy to help ..

Your brother in arms,

Fernando

One time with the cystoscope was enough for me.   The stretching
attempt in the doctors office didn't work -- that evening I had to
have a catheter reinserted and kept it over the weekend.   Tuesday I
was back in the hospital OR and he snipped some scar tissue away.  

VOILA!!!     No more problems.  I will leak a litle when I cough or
sneeze, and I have to be very careful blowing my nose.  This is one
year post op.  The snipping occured about one month post op.

Wayne
wayne1932@juno.com