Jay Simhan, MD, FACS, presented “Paclitaxel Coated Balloons (Optilume) Demystified Knowing When To Say Yes, No, or Wait” during the 44th Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar on February 6, 2025, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
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How to cite: Simhan, Jay. “Paclitaxel Coated Balloons (Optilume) Demystified Knowing When To Say Yes, No, or Wait.” February 6, 2025. Accessed Apr 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/paclitaxel-coated-balloons-optilume-demystified-knowing-when-to-say-yes-no-or-wait/
Paclitaxel Coated Balloons (Optilume) Demystified Knowing When To Say Yes, No, or Wait – Summary
Jay Simhan, MD, FACS, explores the role of Paclitaxel-coated balloons, specifically Optum, in treating urethral strictures, focusing on when to proceed, when to hold off, and when to avoid its use. In this 19-minute presentation, Dr. Simhan emphasizes that while the technology offers promise, its application requires careful patient selection.
Dr. Simhan discusses concerns about tissue effects, durability, and adverse outcomes. He references the ROBUST III trial, which demonstrates a higher success rate with Optilume than traditional dilation, but points out flaws in the study design, including surgeon awareness of treatment allocation, and trial assessment at six months labeled as one-year results, raising questions about the validity of long-term projections.
Patient selection emerges as a critical factor, with the recommendation to consider Optilume primarily for elderly, non-sexually active patients. The presence of Paclitaxel in semen at six months post-procedure raises ethical concerns regarding fertility and teratogenicity, making its use in younger, sexually active men questionable.
Dr. Simhan asserts that while Optilume represents a valuable option, it should not be viewed as a universal solution, and its role in urethral reconstruction requires further investigation.
About The 44th Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar:
The Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar is a multi-day meeting focused on training urologists in the latest in assessing, diagnosing, and treating urologic conditions in the clinical setting. Updates are provided on urologic cancers, stone disease, urologic reconstruction, female urology, infertility, sexual function, emerging surgical techniques, and general urology. The 44th iteration of the meeting took place from February 5th to February 8th, 2025, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For further educational activities from this conference, visit our collection page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jay Simhan, MD, FACS, is a chair at Temple Department of Urology, Professor of Urology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Fellowship Director, GURS Reconstruction and Prosthetics, and a Professor of Urology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Additionally, Dr. Simhan serves as the fellowship director of the reconstructive and prosthetic urology fellowship program. He is also a member of the executive management team at the Fox Chase - Temple Urologic Institute. Dr. Simhan earned his medical degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He completed general surgery and urology residencies at Temple University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center, and he completed additional fellowship training in urologic trauma, reconstruction, and prosthetics at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. Dr. Simhan has completed additional executive leadership training at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Dr. Simhan is an active and contributing member of the American Urologic Association, American College of Surgeons, the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons, Société Internationale d’Urologie, Society of Urologic Prosthetic Surgeons, and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Dr. Simhan currently serves as fellowship committee chair and a member of the board of directors of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons.
