• Calibration of the urethra is the procedure to restore the normal caliber of the urethra.
• For calibration, catheters are introduced into the urethra from a smaller size (10FG) to a bigger one (20FG) and it is to be done very gently.
• Calibration of the urethra is mainly done in the case of urethral stricture.
• It is done under local anesthesia using an anesthetic gel.
• Calibration is generally painless & bloodless as well.
• As a precautionary measure, an intensivist is kept standby during the whole procedure of calibration for apprehensive patients & patients with co-morbidities.

Very rarely in patients with a very tight stricture urethra is not negotiable even with a small size catheter. For such patients, we advise balloon dilatation of urethra.

• Results of Uttarbasti treatment may vary from patient to patient.
• Results of Uttarbasti are assessed clinically and by comparison between pre and post-treatment investigations like Urethrogram and Uroflowmetry.
• Uroflowmetry is done before the commencement of the treatment & is repeated after calibration (generally on 14th day).
• Urethrogram is recommended after one month of the last sitting as sometimes the procedure or the dye used may irritate if done immediately after the treatment.
• The results of Uttarbasti are irrespective of site, size, and extent of stricture.
• Very rarely some patients may require additional sittings after some years.
• According to my experience in this field, Uttarbasti is proving to be a CURE for urethral stricture.

Rarely, in some patients, the flow of urine gets compromised after some time (a few months to years) of the Uttarbasti treatment & they require additional sittings of Uttarbasti.

Patients with the following conditions may require additional sittings of Uttarbasti:

• Who have very hard stricture scar tissue
• Who underwent multiple surgeries
• After urethroplasty
• After multi-stage hypospadiasis repair
• Who were on regular clean intermittent self-catheterization since long
• Patients with BXO