In the OPTILUME® procedure, a balloon catheter is advanced through the urethra to the site of narrowing. The balloon is then inflated, dilating the stricture while simultaneously delivering the drug paclitaxel to prevent re-narrowing. The procedure takes only a few minutes. Urinary flow typically improves significantly afterward, and the risk of recurrent stenosis is reduced.

OPTILUME® is primarily approved for the treatment of urethral strictures. In the United States, FDA approval has been in place since 2023 for use in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the European Union, its use for benign prostatic enlargement is currently considered off-label.

Dr. Jörg Minner has extensive experience with this procedure and has successfully performed numerous minimally invasive treatments.

Link: Optilume® | Drug-coated urethral balloon catheter