Memokath™ 045 Urethra

Memokath™ 045 Urethra is a non-allergenic metallic stent used to effectively treat penile urethral stricture without the side-effects of major surgery, or discomfort of catheters.


Brief introduction

Memokath™ 045 Urethra is a non-allergenic metallic stent used to effectively treat penile 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™ 045 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 up two years or more before needing replacement.


Use of Memokath™ 045 Urethra

Memokath™ 045 Urethra is used for penile 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™ 045 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

    Penile 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

The procedure

The insertion of Memokath™ 045 Urethra is performed with a rigid cystoscope. It is typically carried out on a day case basis under local anesthesia but may need general or spinal anesthesia if VIU is necessary. The insertion normally takes 20-30 minutes. In most cases patients can empty their bladder immediately after Memokath™ 045 Urethra placement and return to daily routines.

Why choose Memokath™ 045 Urethra?

Memokath™ 045 Urethra is chosen as treatment method against penile urethral strictures due to its advantages over competing treatments. Memokath™ 045 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™ 045 Urethra is moreover a sound economic choice of treatment, with the potential to save substantial costs compared to surgery and catherization.

Safety

100% reversible
Causes no tissue in-growth
Causes minimal risk of infection
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. 45 min.
Immediate return to daily activities
Easy to exchange when needed
Immediate symptom relief


Side effects and complications

Memokath™ 045 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 migration or encrustation of the stent. 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 reoccurring symptoms is always recommended to avoid complete encrustation.

Living with Memokath™ 045 Urethra

Memokath™ 045 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™ 045 Urethra, please refer to our FAQ section.

What treatments should Memokath™ 045 Urethra be considered before?

Memokath™ 045 Urethra should be presented to all relevant patients as part of the treatment options for penile urethral obstruction. MemokathTM 045 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™ 045 Urethra before:

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

Case examples


  • Unsuccessful repeated incisions

    Hesitant to undergo surgery or become dependent on catheters a 58-year old male is treated periodically with urethrotomies for his urethral stricture, with the stricture recurring a few months after every time. Memokath™ 045 Urethra now treats his symptoms with much less frequent treatments and much higher quality of life.

  • Weary from self-catheterization

    An untreated sexual transmitted disease caused a penile urethral stricture for a 53-year old. Unwilling to undergo surgery, he has been dependent on self-catheterizing for more than three years but is disheartened and weary from use. After successful insertion of Memokath™ 045 Urethra the patient feels his quality of life lifted materially.

  • Unwilling to undergo urethroplasty

    Determined to avoid the risk of impotence and chordee as possible side-effects of urethroplasty as well as a lifetime of catheter-use a 39-year old male was offered the option of having a Memokath™ 045 Urethra inserted as treatment for a traumatic penile stricture. Memokath™ became the right choice for him and sits up to two years at the time.

  • Illness from Foley catheter-use

    After two years of unsuccessful self-catherization, and six months of Foley-catheter use a 78-year old is faced with continuous fever outbreaks and cloudy, pus-filled urine. Unable to undergo surgery due to frailty, Memokath™ 045 Urethra relieved the patient of infections and the materially decreased quality of life from catheterization.

  • Unsuccessful urethroplasty

    A traffic accident left a 35-year old with complete posterior urethral rupture. Two endoscopic urethroplasties are attempted, but no spontaneous voiding was achieved. Immediately after insertion of Memokath™ 044 Urethra the patient regained his ability to void spontaneously, and still does so two years after.


    How do I become a Memokath™ 045 Urethra user?

    Memokath™ 045 Urethra has treated thousands of patients worldwide and continues to gain popularity among urologists as a treatment of penile urethral stricture. To become a user of Memokath™ 045 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™ 045 Urethra training workshop?

    Please look under the Events section for information.


    Technical Information

    Memokath™ 045 Urethra is available two versions, TW and TTW, both using rigid cystoscope. TW expands in both ends from 24 to 42 CH. TTW expands from 24 to 42 in the proximal end, and from 24 to 33 CH in the distal end. Both versions are available in the following lengths, and in 90 mm. on request: 0.5 (only TW), 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mm.

    Please Contact us to learn more about Memokath™ 045 Urethra or request a visit from one of our product specialists.


    Memokath™ – we treat urinary tract obstructions


    Pnn Medical A/S 2019 All rights reserved