Memokath™ 044 Urethra

Memokath™ 044 Urethra is a non-allergenic metallic stent used to effectively treat bulbar urethral stricture without the side-effects of major surgery, or discomfort of catheters.

Brief introduction

Memokath™ 044 Urethra is a non-allergenic metallic stent used to effectively treat bulbar urethral stricture. The stent is typically inserted in 30-45 minutes under local anesthesia through the urethra with a cystoscope and positioned across the stricture to allow urine to flow through the urethra. Memokath™ 044 Urethra preserves normal bladder control and provides urinary flow without the side-effects of major surgery and discomfort of catheters. It can remain inside the body for several years before needing replacement.

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Instruction video

MRI Compatibility

Instruction for users

Use of Memokath™ 044 Urethra

Memokath™ 044 Urethra is used for bulbar urethral strictures. It treats strictures without the debilitating side-effects of surgery, and discomfort of catheters making it a preferred choice for patients who wish to avoid these. The effectiveness and long-term patency of Memokath™ 044 Urethra also makes it viable solution for patients who receive incisions or dilatations regularly, as well as for patients of high age, frailty, or on anticoagulant medicine.

Indications

Bulbar urethral strictures
Etiology

Trauma
Instrumentations
Sexually transmitted diseases
Patient examples

Patients receiving repeat incisions or dilations
Patients on catheters
Patients unwilling to undergo surgery
Patients for whom surgery has failed
Patients of high age or frailty
Patients on anticoagulant medicine

Why choose Memokath™ 044 Urethra?

Memokath™ 044 Urethra is chosen as treatment method against bulbar urethral strictures due to its advantages over competing treatments. Memokath™ 044 Urethra offers a high degree of patient safety and quality of life by avoiding the debilitating side-effects of e.g. impotence, incontinence and urinary tract infections observed with competing treatments. Through its extended insitu time among other factors and Memokath™ 044 Urethra is moreover a sound economic choice of treatment with the potential to save substantial costs compared to surgery and catherization and has demonstrated a high rate of long-term stricture resolution after stent removal.

Safety

100% reversible Causes minimal risk of infection Minimal tissue in-growth risk No need for general anaesthesia Replaces need for surgery

Quality of Life

Causes no impotence Causes no incontinence Retains voluntary urination control Replaces need for catheters Low risk of infection

Cost effectiveness

Fewer switches than with catheters Out-patient procedure of app. 30 min. Immediate return to daily activities Easy to exchange when needed Immediate symptom relief

Side effects and complications

Memokath™ 044 Urethra generally causes few and only minor side-effects. Blood may occur in the patients’ urine for a period after the insertion, which is normal. The risk of complications is also minor and pertains to stent migration or encrustation.

If the stent migrates, it can often be repositioned. If not, it can simply be removed or exchanged with a new stent. If the stent encrusts it will typically have to be exchanged. Vigilance by both patients and doctors towards recouping symptoms is always recommended to avoid complete encrustation.

Due to the curvature of the urethra, Memokath™ 044 Urethra has in some cases been known to cause slight tissue ingrowth, but rarely to an extent affecting ease of exchange or removal.

What treatments should Memokath™ 044 Urethra be considered before?

Memokath™ 044 Urethra should be presented to all relevant patients as part of the treatment options for bulbar urethral obstruction. MemokathTM 044 Urethra has in many cases improved the quality of life substantially for patients living with catheters or receiving regular incisions or dilatations and would have been a preferred option for many patients who have been treated through surgery, and now suffer from debilitating side-effects and complications. Consider treatment with Memokath™ 044 Urethra before:

Foley catheters
Clean intermittent self-catherization (CISC)
Repeated incisions
Repeated dilations
Urethroplasty

Living with Memokath™ 044 Urethra

Memokath™ 044 Urethra typically offers patients a quick return to daily activities after treatment, most often with a substantial decrease in symptoms, and little or no side-effects or complications. Instructing the patients to drink plenty of water will help minimize risk of encrustation. Patient-checkups are advised to ensure the stent continue to function optimally.

For frequently asked questions about Memokath™ 044 Urethra, please refer to our FAQ section.

Case examples

Unsuccessful urethrotomies

Following a severe traffic accident, a 22-year old male is left with complete posterior urethral rupture. Several endoscopic urethrotomies are attempted without success, until Memokath™ 044 Urethra is inserted. Immediately upon stent placement the patient achieves spontaneous voiding and continues to do so years later.
Weary from Foley catheter-use

A 73-year old male unfit for surgical treatment due to frailty faces his remaining life limited by use and switches of Foley-catheters. After two years the patient’s life quality is severely affected. With Memokath™ 044 Urethra the patient regained his feeling of freedom with from pain, sickness and medical attention.
Unsuccesful repeated incisions

Determined to avoid the risks of major surgery and discomfort of catheters a 54-year old male is treated with dilations for his urethral stricture app. every three months. After discovering Memokath™ 044 Urethra his treatment regimen can now be limited to switches every year or less.
Unwilling to undergo urethroplasty

Faced with the risk of erectile dysfunction and scrotal swelling as side-effects of urethroplasty a 45-year old male was searching for alternative treatments for a urethral stricture caused by sexual transmitted disease. Memokath™ 044 Urethra became the right solution for him even if needing continual exchanges every one or two years.
Discomfort from self-catheterization

A 63-year old male suffered a traumatic urethral stricture caused by a traffic accident. Dependent on anticoagulants, he is unable to undergo surgery, and feels weary after self-catheterizing for more than three years. The patient had Memokath™ 044 Urethra inserted and feels the stent has lifted his quality of life substantially.

How do I become a Memokath™ 044 Urethra user?

Memokath™ 044 Urethra has treated thousands of patients worldwide and continues to gain popularity among urologists as a treatment of bulbar urethral stricture. To become a user of Memokath™ 044 Urethra you can request a visit from one of our representatives to initiate a training process or participate in one of our regular training workshops displayed under Events. Either way, our product specialists will assist you with your patients on-location until you feel confident with performing the method on your own.

When is the next Memokath™ 044 Urethra training workshop?

Please look under the Events section for information.

Technical Information

Memokath™ 044 044 Urethra expands in the proximal end from CH 24 to CH 42 and is available in one version using a rigid cystoscope. Memokath™ 044 Urethra is available in the following lengths, and in 90 mm. on request: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 mm.

Please Contact us to learn more about Memokath™ 044 Urethra or request a visit from one of our product specialists.