Porcine small intestinal submucosa graft for repair of anterior urethral strictures

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) used in the treatment of inflammatory, iatrogenic, posttraumatic, and idiopathic strictures of bulbar and penile urethra. Midterm maintenance of urethral patency was assessed. METHODS: Fifty patients aged 45-73 yr with anterior urethral stricture underwent urethroplasty using a porcine SIS collagen-based matrix for urethral reconstruction. Stricture was localized in the bulbar urethra in 10 patients, the bulbopenile area in 31 cases, and in the distal penile urethra in nine patients. All patients received a four-layered SIS patch graft in an onlay fashion. A voiding history, retrograde and antegrade urethrography, and cystoscopy were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Failure was defined as stricture confirmed on urethrogram. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 31.2 mo (range: 24-36 mo), the clinical, radiological, and cosmetic findings were excellent in 40 (80%) patients. Restricture developed in one of 10 bulbar, five of 31 bulbopenile, and four of nine penile strictures. These all occurred in the first 6 mo postoperatively. All patients with recurrences needed further therapy, but there has been no additional recurrence observed to date. No complications such as fistula, wound infection, UTI, or rejection were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Use of inert porcine SIS matrix appears to be beneficial for patients with bulbar and bulbopenile strictures. Midterm results are comparable to skin flaps and mucosal grafts.     

游离黏膜尿道成形治疗硬化性苔藓样病所致尿道狭窄的疗效观察

目的 提高对硬化性苔藓样病( lichen sclerosus,LS)导致尿道狭窄的认识,观察游离黏膜尿道成形治疗LS所致尿道狭窄的疗效. 方法 2007年1月-2010年12月收治LS所致前尿道狭窄患者36例,年龄27～75岁,平均41岁.尿道狭窄段长5.0 ～20.0 cm,平均11.5 cm.根据尿道狭窄段长短和严重程度选择不同的黏膜组织,其中行口腔内黏膜(舌、颊黏膜)尿道成形27例,结肠黏膜尿道成形8例,另1例老年患者行前尿道劈开.在行尿道重建术前对病变累及的阴茎头、尿道口、尿道行病理学检查. 结果 36例患者术后3周拔除导尿管,排尿通畅;活检结果提示上皮基底部特征性病变,过度角化,上皮层变薄,淋巴细胞浸润等.术后随访6 ～ 50个月,平均22个月.出现尿道外口狭窄3例(8.3％),其中口腔内黏膜尿道成形者2例,结肠黏膜重建尿道者1例,行尿道外口切开后排尿通畅.余患者术后排尿通畅,最大尿流率17.2～47.0 ml/s,平均23.4 ml/s. 结论 采用游离黏膜尿道成形治疗LS所致尿道狭窄疗效较好,但需密切随访,因病变迁延可致尿道再狭窄,尤其是尿道口再狭窄.     

结肠黏膜尿道成形治疗复杂性超长段尿道狭窄的长期疗效

目的 观察结肠黏膜尿道成形术治疗复杂性超长段尿道狭窄的长期效果和影响因素. 方法 2000年10月至2009年9月采用结肠黏膜尿道成形治疗复杂性超长段尿道狭窄46例.年龄17 ～70岁,平均39岁.尿道狭窄段长10.0～20.0 cm,平均15.2 cm.术前有平均2.7次不成功的尿道修复史.通过定期门诊或电话随访进行术后疗效评估,包括排尿情况和尿流率检查,部分患者行尿道造影和尿道镜检查等.以不需要任何处理包括尿道扩张,能正常排尿,尿流率在正常范围内者视为手术成功. 结果 结肠黏膜重建尿道的长度为11.0～21.0 cm,平均15.4 cm.1例失访,余45例随访20～120个月,平均62个月.发生与手术相关的并发症4例(8.9％),其中3例于术后3、8和24个月发生尿道外口狭窄,1例术后29个月发生结肠黏膜新尿道与尿道近端吻合口狭窄.另2例发生与结肠黏膜尿道成形术无关的尿道狭窄. 结论 结肠黏膜尿道成形术治疗复杂性超长段尿道狭窄术后长期效果理想;影响术后效果的因素是尿道口狭窄和吻合口狭窄.     

Die bulbäre Harnröhrenstriktur

Urethral strictures are often located in the bulbar urethra, and bulbar strictures are commonly due to urethral trauma. Diagnosis is confirmed by radiographic imaging of the urethra. In cases of short primary bulbar strictures, a simple internal urethrotomy may be curative. In contrast, open surgery should be performed in long segment or recurrent strictures because recurrence rates are near 100% in these cases. Depending of the actual findings and comorbidities, end-to-end anastomosis, graft urethroplasty, flap urethroplasty, or perineal urethrostomy may be used. If definitive treatment using open surgery is delayed and multiple endoscopic treatments are tried, urethroplasty becomes more complex and success rates of definitive treatment decline.     

Staged pendulous-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty followed by reconstruction of the anterior urethra: an effective treatment for long-segment bulbar and membranous urethral stricture

OBJECTIVES: To describe a novel surgical technique for male long-segment urethral stricture after pelvic trauma using the intact and pedicled pendulous urethra to replace the bulbar and membranous urethra, followed by reconstruction of the anterior urethra. METHODS: Two patients with long-segment post-traumatic bulbar and membranous urethral strictures with short left pendulous urethras who had undergone several failed previous surgeries were treated with staged pendulous-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty followed by reconstruction of the anterior urethra. This procedure was divided into three stages. First-stage surgery was mobilization of the anterior urethra down to the coronary sulcus and then rerouted to the prostatic urethra followed by pendulous-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty with transposition of the penis to the perineum. Second-stage surgery was transecting the anterior urethra at the revascularised coronary sulcus 6 mo later, followed by straightening of the penis and urethroperineostomy. Third-stage surgery was reconstruction of the anterior urethra 6 mo later. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the two patients reported satisfactory voiding. For patient 1, retrograde urethrography showed that the urethra was patent, and that the mean maximal flow rate (MFR) was 18.4 ml/s with no postvoiding residual urine after the third-stage surgery and at 3-yr follow-up. For patient 2, a 22F urethral catheter could pass smoothly through the urethra, and the MFR was 19.5 ml/s with no postvoiding residual urine at 2-yr follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure was an effective surgical option for men with complex long-segment post-traumatic bulbar and membranous urethral strictures, especially for those who had undergone failed previous surgical treatments.     

Buccal mucosa urethroplasty for the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures

PURPOSE: We report the results of urethroplasty with a free graft of buccal mucosa as a dorsal onlay for the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since June 1994, 30 patients with bulbar urethral strictures have been treated with buccal mucosa urethroplasty. Urethroplasty was performed with a free graft of buccal mucosa using a ventral onlay in the first 7 patients and a dorsal onlay in 23. Dorsal urethrotomy was performed with a Sachse urethrotome after the bulbar urethra was separated from the corpora. The buccal mucosa onlay was sutured to the urethra and corpora cavernosa to ensure a patent urethra. RESULTS: At 20-month followup (range 3 to 50) the success rate was 96% (29 of 30 patients). Urethral stricture recurred in only 1 of 7 patients in the ventral onlay and none of 23 in the dorsal onlay group. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of urethroplasty for bulbar urethral strictures with a dorsal onlay graft of buccal mucosa are excellent. Longer followup is needed to evaluate definitive results.     

小肠黏膜下层修复尿道的实验研究

目的探讨小肠黏膜下层(small intestinal submucosa,SIS)在尿道修复重建中的应用价值.方法 24只日本雄性大耳白兔,随机分为A、B、C及D组(n=6).A、B组切除前尿道2.0 cm,A组,用管状SIS修复尿道缺损;B组将其断端与周围组织直接缝合作为对照.C、D组仅切除2.0 cm尿道前壁,保留一半尿道壁为底板,C组用片状SIS修复尿道缺损;D组将其残端与周围组织直接缝合作为对照.均于修复后6、12周行组织学观察;12周行尿道膀胱造影及尿动力学检查.结果术后6周,A、C组修复的尿道有单层上皮细胞覆盖,基层组织中可见SIS的微小碎片包裹,出现不规则紊乱的平滑肌细胞生长,A组较C组的炎性反应重,有白细胞及淋巴细胞浸润,C组出现新生血管.术后12周,C组的上皮组织及基层下组织与D组无明显差别,平滑肌排列规则,血管数目进一步增多,炎性反应消失,未见SIS组织;A组中仍可见少数SIS的微小碎片;B组1只、D组2只尿道自行修复,余可见尿道闭塞,大量结缔组织生长,炎性细胞浸润,无正常上皮结构.术后12周尿道膀胱造影,A、C组可见尿道完整、光滑,无尿液外渗、尿道憩室等形成;尿动力学检查示A、C组的膀胱容量、最大尿道压分别与术前比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而B、D组不能置入测压管检测.结论 SIS可作为兔尿道修复重建的良好支架材料,片状SIS修复优于管状SIS修复.     

Long-term followup of the ventrally placed buccal mucosa onlay graft in bulbar urethral reconstruction

PURPOSE: We investigate whether the short-term success rate (greater than 90%) of buccal mucosa free grafts in the bulbar urethra is sustained in the long term. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 60 patients a ventrally placed buccal mucosa graft was used for repair of bulbar urethral strictures. Of these patients 49 had undergone previous attempt at repair (urethroplasty in 4, internal urethrotomy in 45). Mean graft length was 4.8 cm. In 9 patients a distal penile fasciocutaneous flap was also used for repair of concomitant penile urethral stricture. In 8 of the 9 patients the buccal mucosa graft was combined with end-to-end urethroplasty and 2 buccal mucosa grafts were used in tandem in 1. Followup was at least 1 year in all cases (mean 47 months, range 12 to 107). Failure was defined as an obstructive voiding pattern with radiographic or cystoscopic evidence of recurrent stricture. RESULTS: Bulbar stricture repair was successful in 54 patients (90%) and 4 of the remaining 6 responded to 1 internal urethrotomy for a long-term success rate of 97%. Preoperative clinical characteristics were not significantly different between those who experienced success or failure. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcome analysis of ventrally placed buccal mucosa onlay grafts for bulbar urethral strictures demonstrates a durable success rate of 90%. This rate can be improved (97%) with the judicious use of internal urethrotomy.     

Adult anterior urethral strictures: a national practice patterns survey of board certified urologists in the United States

PURPOSE: We determined the methods and patterns of the evaluation of and treatment for adult anterior urethral stricture disease by practicing urologists in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nationwide survey of practicing members of the American Urological Association was performed by a mailed questionnaire. A total of 1,262 urologists were randomly selected from all 50 states, of whom 431 (34%) completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Most urologists (63%) treat 6 to 20 urethral strictures yearly. The most common procedures used by those surveyed for urethral strictures were dilation (92.8%), optical internal urethrotomy (85.6%) and endourethral stent (23.4%). Minimally invasive procedures are used more frequently that any open urethroplasty technique. Furthermore, most urologists (57.8%) do not perform urethroplasty surgery. When used, the most common urethroplasty surgeries performed were end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty, perineal urethrostomy and ventral skin graft urethroplasty. Few urologists (4.2%) performed buccal mucosa grafts. For a long bulbar urethral stricture or short bulbar urethral stricture refractory to internal urethrotomy 20% to 29% of respondents would refer to another urologist, while 31% to 33% would continue to manage the stricture by minimally invasive means despite predictable failure. Of the urologists 74% believed that the literature supports a reconstructive surgical ladder, in which urethroplasty is only performed after repeat failure of endoscopic methods. CONCLUSIONS: Most urologists in the United States have little experience with urethroplasty surgery. Most urologists erroneously believe that the literature supports a reconstructive surgical ladder for urethral stricture management. Unfamiliarity with the literature and inexperience with urethroplasty surgery have made the use of endoscopic methods inappropriately common.     

Urethroplasty in female-to-male transsexuals

OBJECTIVE: Female-to-male transformation includes total phallic reconstruction. Construction of a neourethra is necessary to achieve the goal of voiding while standing; however urethral fistula and stricture formation occur in a significant percentage of patients. METHODS: 25 patients with primary female transsexualism underwent phalloplasty with a free radial forearm flap, vaginectomy and urethroplasty in a one-stage procedure. In 16 of these patients the fixed part of the neourethra ("bulbar urethra") was constructed from a vaginal flap. In 9 patients flaps of the labia minora (5 patients) or the "urethral plate" (4 patients) were used. RESULTS: In 14 (58%) patients fistulas and/or strictures in the newly constructed urethra occurred. 11 (69%) of 16 patients in whom the "bulbar urethra" was constructed from a vaginal flap experienced fistulas and/or stricture formation. Fistulas and/or strictures occurred in 3 of 5 patients with labia minora flaps and none of 4 patients with the urethral plate procedure. Repair of fistula and strictures was performed by primary closure of fistulas, staged urethroplasty with local pedicle flaps or distant tissue grafts using buccal mucosa (2-6 procedures). CONCLUSION: One-stage total phalloplasty and urethroplasty is associated with a significant rate of fistulas and strictures. However, these complications can be corrected by the techniques used in modern urethral surgery.     

The Barbagli procedure gives the best results for patch urethroplasty of the bulbar urethra

OBJECTIVE: To compare the surgical outcome using buccal mucosal free grafts in the Barbagli procedure (dorsal stricturotomy and patch technique) with the traditional ventral approach, for long bulbar urethral strictures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a period of 6 years, a total of 71 patients with bulbar urethral strictures underwent buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty. Twenty-nine patients had a traditional ventral urethroplasty and 42 were managed by the Barbagli procedure with the stricturotomy and patch on the dorsal aspect of the urethra. RESULTS: At 5 years of follow-up 5% of patients who underwent the Barbagli procedure developed recurrent strictures, compared to 14% in the traditional ventral stricturotomy group. All patients developed postmicturition dribble of urine to some degree, which was troublesome in 17% in the Barbagli group and 21% in the ventral stricturotomy group. Complications attributable to out-pouching of the graft were not seen in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The dorsal stricturotomy and patch (Barbagli) procedure had a higher success rate than the traditional ventral urethroplasty. Comparing these results with our experience of skin inlay urethroplasty, buccal mucosal grafts seem to have advantages however they are used.     

Magnetic resonance urethrography in comparison to retrograde urethrography in diagnosis of male urethral strictures: is it clinically relevant?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical relevance of retrograde urethrography (RUG) and magnetic resonance (MR) urethrography in evaluating male urethral strictures. METHODS: Between January and April 2004, 20 men were referred to our institute for management of urethral strictures. The patients were investigated by conventional RUG and multiformat MR urethrography. The patients were examined by urethroscopy under anesthesia to be followed by definitive endoscopic or open operative intervention. The radiologic data were compared by endoscopic as well as operative findings in all the patients. RESULTS: Ten patients were managed by visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) and two by dilatation under anesthesia; two showed normal urethral caliber. Four patients required open urethral reconstructive procedures. Two patients underwent radical cystectomy and cutaneous diversion because of associated bladder or urethral malignancy. Although overall accuracy for diagnosis of urethral strictures was equal between both modalities (85%), MR urethrography provided extra clinical data in seven patients (35%). It was superior to RUG in judging the urethral stricture length in three patients, diagnosing a urethral tumor in one, detecting associated bladder mass in one, characterizing the site of urethra-rectal fistula in one, and accurately delineating the proximal urethra in the last patient. Unlike RUG, MR urethrography provided adequate information about the degree of spongiofibrosis in all patients. CONCLUSION: MR urethrography is a promising tool for defining male urethral strictures and can provide extra guidance for treatment planning that cannot be obtained with RUG.     

前尿道代后尿道成形术治疗男性复杂性后尿道狭窄

目的探讨长段复杂性后尿道狭窄治疗新方法。方法采用分期前尿道代后尿道成形术治疗3例复杂性后尿道长段狭窄（6．5—10．0cm）患者。第一期行阴茎转位尿道端端吻合术，术后3—6个月行二期阴茎伸直、尿道会阴造口术，6个月后行第三期前尿道成形术（Johanson Ⅱ期尿道成形术）。结果例1术后排尿通畅，膀胱尿道造影检查示尿道通畅，双侧输尿管返流近消失，最大尿流率18．8ml／s，随访2年，最大尿流率18ml／s，无剩余尿。例2术后排尿通畅，最大尿流率19．5ml／s，无剩余尿，尿道扩张可顺利通过22F尿道探子。例3经会阴一耻骨联合径路行第一期阴茎转位尿道端端吻合术、尿道直肠瘘、尿道会阴瘘切除、修补术，术后尿道直肠瘘及尿道会阴瘘治愈，但因耻骨联合切口感染致吻合口狭窄，有待进一步治疗。结论分期前尿道代后尿道加前尿道重建方法是治疗男性长段复杂性尿道狭窄的有效方法。     

Gray scale and color Doppler sonography with extended field of view technique for the diagnostic evaluation of anterior urethral strictures

PURPOSE: We compared the clinical relevance of radio urethrography with that of sonourethrography for evaluating male urethral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2002 to 2004, 93 men were referred to our institution for urethral strictures. Patients were evaluated by conventional voiding cystourethrography, retrograde urethrography, and gray scale and color Doppler sonourethrography. For sonourethrography the extended field of view technique was used to obtain 1 image of the whole anterior urethra. In all cases the urethra was evaluated cystoscopically or at open surgery. Radio urethrography and sonourethrography findings were compared with cystoscopy or surgery findings. RESULTS: All strictures were evaluated and treated cystoscopically with visual internal urethrotomy (34%) or at open operation (66%), which allowed comparison of the ability of each study to predict operative stricture length. Sonourethrography correctly identified the stricture and its site in all cases, whereas radio urethrography yielded 2 false-negative results. There was a significant difference between stricture length measured by radio urethrography compared to that measured by sonourethrography (correlation coefficient 0.72 vs 0.92, p<0.005). Mean+/-SD stricture length measured by radio urethrography was 1.5+/-1.3 cm and by sonourethrography it was 2.1+/-0.9 cm. Comparison of radio urethrography and sonourethrography stricture length with operative lengths demonstrated a good correlation in the penile urethra (correlation coefficient 0.91 vs 0.98), whereas a poor correlation was found in the bulbar urethra (correlation coefficient 0.65 vs 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Gray scale and color Doppler sonourethrography using the extended field of view technique with a Siemens Sonoline Elegra is a promising tool for defining male urethral strictures. It seems to be superior to radio urethrography for treatment planning.     

Buccal mucosal urethroplasty: a versatile technique for all urethral segments

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with buccal mucosa urethroplasty for substitution of all segments of the anterior urethra, as the buccal mucosal graft (BMG) has emerged as the tissue of choice for single-stage reconstruction of bulbar urethral strictures, but its use for reconstructing meatal, pendulous and pan-urethral strictures has not been widely reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and October 2003, 92 patients had a BMG substitution urethroplasty at our institution; 75 had a single-stage dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty (bulbar 41, pendulous 16 and pan-urethral 18; six combined penile skin flap and BMG) and 17 (pendulous five, pan-urethral 10, bulbar two) a two-stage urethroplasty. Recurrence rates, complications and cosmetic outcomes were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Over a median (range) follow-up of 34 (8-72) months, 66 (88%) patients with a one-stage reconstruction (14/16 pendulous; 37/41, 90%, bulbar; 15/16 pan-urethral) remained stricture-free. The mean (range) time to recurrence was 9.4 (3-17) months. Of the nine recurrent strictures, six were managed by one-stage optical urethrotomy and three required a repeat urethroplasty. In patients who had a staged procedure, after a mean follow-up of 24.2 (9-56) months, one had complete graft loss, requiring re-grafting, five required stomal revision after stage 1, and only two (12%) developed a recurrent stricture after the two-stage urethroplasty. CONCLUSION: A one-stage dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty provides excellent results for strictures involving any segment of the anterior urethra. The BMG appears to be the most versatile urethral substitute, as it can be successfully used for both one- and two-stage reconstruction of the entire anterior urethra.     

Substitution urethroplasty with buccal mucosal-free grafts

PURPOSE: Buccal mucosal grafts and the Barbagli technique are recent developments in the treatment of urethral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the results of and experience with urethroplasty using buccal mucosal graft in 128 patients. RESULTS: The re-stricture rate was 11% for patch grafts and 45% for tube grafts. There were no other complications. CONCLUSIONS: Buccal mucosal graft is at least as good as any other material for substitution urethroplasty with fewer complications. The 2-stage is more reliable than the stage 1 approach for circumferential reconstruction of the urethra.     

Reconstruction of Membranous Urethral Strictures

Purpose of Review

Due to the proximity of the rhabdosphincter and cavernous nerves to the membranous urethra, reconstruction of membranous urethral stricture implies a risk of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. To avoid these complications, endoscopic management of membranous urethral strictures is traditionally favored, and bulboprostatic anastomosis is reserved as the main classical approach for open reconstruction of recalcitrant membranous urethral stricture. The preference for the anastomotic urethroplasty among reconstructive urologists is likely influenced by the familiarity and experience with trauma-related injuries. We review the literature focusing on the anatomy of membranous urethra and on the evolution of treatments for membranous urethral strictures.

Recent Findings

Non-traumatic strictures affecting bulbomembranous urethra are typically sequelae of instrumentation, transurethral resection of the prostate, prostate cancer treatment, and pelvic irradiation. Being a different entity from trauma-related injuries where urethra is not in continuity, a new understanding of membranous urethral anatomy is necessary for the development of novel reconstruction techniques. Although efficacious and durable to achieve urethral patency, classical bulboprostatic anastomosis carries a risk of de-novo incontinence and impotence. Newer and relatively less invasive reconstructive alternatives include bulbar vessel-sparing intra-sphincteric bulboprostatic anastomosis and buccal mucosa graft augmented membranous urethroplasty techniques. The accumulated experience with these techniques is relatively scarce, but several published series present promising results. These approaches are especially indicated in patients with previous transurethral resection of the prostate in which sparing of rhabdosphincter and the cavernous nerves is important in attempt to preserve continence and potency. Additionally, introduction of buccal mucosa onlay grafts could be especially beneficial in radiation-induced strictures to avoid transection of the sphincter in continent patients, and to preserve the blood supply to the urethra for incontinent patients who will require artificial urinary sphincter placement. The evidence regarding erectile functional outcomes is less solid and this item should be furtherly investigated.

     

Bulbar urethroplasty using buccal mucosa grafts placed on the ventral, dorsal or lateral surface of the urethra: are results affected by the surgical technique?

PURPOSE: The use of buccal mucosa graft onlay urethroplasty represents the most widespread method of bulbar urethral stricture repair. The graft may be placed on the ventral or dorsal urethral surface according to surgeon experience and preference. We investigated whether the results are affected by the surgical technique by comparing the outcome of 3 types of bulbar urethroplasty using buccal mucosa graft. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We repaired 50 bulbar urethral strictures with buccal mucosa grafts from 1997 to 2002. Mean patient age was 42 years. The etiology of stricture was ischemia in 12 cases, trauma in 6, instrumentation in 4 and unknown in 28. Patients with lichen sclerosus, failed hypospadias or urethroplasty and stricture extending into the penile urethra were not included. A total of 47 patients (94%) had undergone previous urethrotomy or dilation. The buccal mucosa graft was always harvested from the cheek using a 2 team approach. Mean graft length was 4.2 cm. The graft was placed on the ventral, dorsal and lateral bulbar urethral surface in 17, 27 and 6 cases, respectively. Clinical outcome was considered a success or failure at the time that any postoperative procedure was needed, including dilation. Mean followup was 42 months (range 12 to 76). RESULTS: Of 50 cases 42 (84%) were successful and 8 (16%) failed. The 17 ventral grafts provided success in 14 cases (83%) and failure in 3 (17%). The 27 dorsal grafts provided success in 23 cases (85%) and failure in 4 (15%). The 6 lateral grafts provided success in 5 cases (83%) and failure in 1 (17%). No surgical complications were observed. Failures involved the anastomotic site (distal in 2 and proximal in 3) and the whole grafted area in 3 cases. They were treated with urethrotomy in 5 cases and 2-stage urethroplasty in 3. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the placement of buccal mucosa grafts into the ventral, dorsal or lateral surface of the bulbar urethra showed the same success rates (83% to 85%) and the outcome was not affected by the surgical technique. Moreover, stricture recurrence was uniformly distributed in all patients.