Buccal mucosal urethroplasty for balanitis xerotica obliterans related urethral strictures: the outcome of 1 and 2-stage techniques

PURPOSE: Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) related strictures are complex and generally managed by 2-staged urethroplasty. We present our results with 1-stage dorsal onlay and 2-stage buccal mucosal urethroplasty for such strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and April 2004, 39 patients underwent buccal mucosal urethroplasty for BXO related anterior urethral strictures. The 25 patients with a salvageable urethral plate (group 1) were treated with 1-stage dorsal onlay urethroplasty using a cosmetic incision. The 14 patients with a severely scarred urethral plate, focally dense segments or active infection (group 2) underwent 2-stage urethroplasty. Outcomes in terms of cosmetic appearance, stricture recurrence and complications in the 2 groups were assessed. RESULTS: At a mean followup of 32.5 months (range 3 to 52) 3 patients (12%) in group 1 had recurrent stricture, of which 2 and 1 were treated with optical urethrotomy and urethral dilation, respectively. All patients had a normal slit-like meatus and none had chordee or erectile dysfunction. Four group 2 patients (28.6%) required stomal revision and 2 had glans cleft narrowing after stage 1 urethroplasty. Following stage 2, 3 patients had recurrent stricture, of whom 2 were treated with optical urethrotomy and 1 underwent repeat urethroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: In BXO related strictures with a viable urethral plate 1-stage dorsal onlay buccal mucosal urethroplasty provides excellent intermediate term results. The cosmetic incision described provides a normal, wide caliber, slit-like glans. Two-stage procedures provide satisfactory outcomes but they are associated with a higher revision rate.     

The surgical management of obstructive stents used for urethral strictures

PURPOSE: We present our referral experience with patients who had extensive urethral obstruction following UroLume insertion and were treated with urethroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 13 men with urethral stricture who experienced recurrent obstruction following placement of a UroLume endoprosthesis. In all patients several attempts at urethral dilation and optical urethrotomy failed to overcome the obstruction. Complete excision of the obstructed urethra containing the stent with the surrounding periurethral fibrosis was done in all patients. In 12 patients a 1-stage bipedicled penile island tubularized flap was used to bridge the urethral defect. In 1 patient 1-stage urethroplasty was performed and he is awaiting stage 2. Followup assessment included urine flow, post-void residual urine measurement, retrograde urethrogram and urethroscopy at different intervals. RESULTS: Of the 12 patients who underwent complete treatment 1 had a short segment stricture at the site of the distal anastomosis 3 months after catheter removal, which was successfully managed by internal urethrotomy. He was doing well at the 12-month followup. In 11 patients a successful outcome was noted immediately after catheter removal and it was maintained at a mean followup of 1.8 years (range 1 to 4). CONCLUSIONS: Complete excision of the obstructed urethra containing the UroLume stent with the surrounding periurethral fibrosis is an important first step in reconstruction. Subsequent use of a 1-stage bipedicled penile island tubularized flap resulted in excellent long-term results. In a small subset of cases delayed stage 2 repair after skin inlay is a valuable option.     

尿道下裂术后尿道狭窄在青春期后的处理经验(附71例报告)

目的:探讨尿道下裂术后尿道狭窄在青春期后的处理经验。方法:回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年12月上海交通大学附属第六人民医院收治的71例青春期后就诊的尿道下裂术后尿道狭窄患者的临床资料。年龄平均27.7(12～65)岁;病程平均33.4(1～240)个月。既往手术次数平均2.5(1～9)次;尿道异位开口32例,其中...     

REPEAT URETHROTOMY AND DILATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF URETHRAL STRICTURE ARE NEITHER CLINICALLY EFFECTIVE NOR COST-EFFECTIVE

PURPOSE: We developed an algorithm for the management of urethral stricture based on cost-effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: United Kingdom medical and hospital costs associated with the current management of urethral stricture were calculated using private medical insurance schedules of reimbursement and clean intermittent self-catheterization supply costs. These costs were applied to 126 new patients treated endoscopically for urethral stricture in a general urological setting between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1999. Treatment failure was defined as recurrent symptomatic stricture requiring further operative intervention following initial intervention. Mean followup available was 25 months (range 1 to 132). RESULTS: The costs were urethrotomy/urethral dilation 2,250.00 pounds sterling (3,375.00 dollars, ratio 1.00), simple 1-stage urethroplasty 5,015.00 pounds sterling (7,522.50 dollars, ratio 2.23), complex 1-stage urethroplasty 5,335.00 pounds sterling (8,002.50 dollars, ratio 2.37) and 2-stage urethroplasty 10,370 pounds sterling (15,555.00 dollars, ratio 4.61). Of the 126 patients assessed 60 (47.6%) required more than 1 endoscopic retreatments (mean 3.13 each), 50 performed biweekly clean intermittent self-catheterization and 7 underwent urethroplasty during followup. The total cost per patient for all 126 patients for stricture treatment during followup was 6,113 pounds sterling (9,170 dollars). This cost was calculated by multiplying procedure cost by the number of procedures performed. A strategy of urethrotomy or urethral dilation as first line treatment, followed by urethroplasty for recurrence yielded a total cost per patient of 5,866 pounds sterling (8,799 dollars). CONCLUSIONS: A strategy of initial urethrotomy or urethral dilation followed by urethroplasty in patients with recurrent stricture proves to be the most cost-effective strategy. This financially based strategy concurs with evidence based best practice for urethral stricture management.     

Changing practice in anterior urethroplasty

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience of penile urethral repair and reconstruction, cataloguing the change in practice from one-stage flap to two-stage free graft procedures for anterior urethroplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1992 and December 1996, 79 patients underwent anterior urethroplasty. Of the 45 one-stage bulbar patch urethroplasties, 37 (76%) used buccal mucosal free grafts rather than flaps. Of the 34 penile urethroplasties, 26 (82%) (including all of the circumferential reconstructions) were two-stage procedures. RESULTS: Buccal mucosal free grafts were at least as good as local skin flaps for patch urethroplasty and two-stage repairs gave much better results than one-stage repairs for total circumferential reconstruction of the penile urethra. CONCLUSIONS: For a patch urethroplasty of an uncomplicated stricture in the bulbar urethra, buccal mucosal free grafts are now the material of choice. For a patch urethroplasty of an uncomplicated stricture in the penile urethra the Orandi procedure remains the 'gold standard'. For a circumferential repair of the urethra, particularly the penile urethra, a two-stage repair using a free graft gives better results than a one-stage repair using a flap.     

PENILE CIRCULAR FASCIOCUTANEOUS SKIN FLAP IN 1-STAGE RECONSTRUCTION OF COMPLEX ANTERIOR URETHRAL STRICTURES

Purpose

We review the applications and outcomes of penile circular fasciocutaneous flap urethroplasty in 66 patients at our institution.

Materials and Methods

We used a circular distal penile skin flap for urethral reconstruction in 66 men with complex urethral strictures. Average stricture length in this series was 9.08 cm. and mean followup was 41 months (range 1 to 7 years).

Results

The initial overall success rate was 79% (52 of 66 cases). Recurrent stenosis was noted in 7 of the 54 onlay (13%) and 7 of the 12 tubularized repairs (58%). Most recurrent strictures were successfully treated with a single subsequent procedure, including repeat urethroplasty in 5 cases and optical urethrotomy or dilation in 6. Two patients required perineal urethrostomy and 1 awaits further reconstruction. Including subsequent procedures, the overall long-term followup success rate was 95%. Neurovascular lower extremity complications developed in 4 patients after prolonged high lithotomy positioning.

Conclusions

Circular fasciocutaneous flap urethroplasty is a highly effective 1-stage method of reconstructing complex urethral strictures. Onlay repairs appear to be more successful than those involving flap tubularization. Limiting the time that the patient spends in the high lithotomy position appears to prevent neurovascular extremity complications.     

Urethral plate salvage with dorsal graft promotes successful penile flap onlay reconstruction of severe pendulous strictures

PURPOSE: A modified 1-stage penile flap onlay reconstruction is presented for patients with a long stricture in whom the urethral plate is deficient or absent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 37 patients who underwent transverse penile island flap onlay urethroplasty 3 men and 1 boy required simultaneous augmentation (2) or replacement (2) of an inadequate urethral plate. The 15-year-old boy had persistent severe chordee after multiple hypospadias procedures. A dorsal buccal mucosal graft was used in 3 cases and cadaveric dermal graft was used in 1. The goal of dorsal graft application in each case was to create a uniform urethral plate 1 cm. wide to promote successful 1-stage penile flap onlay reconstruction. RESULTS: No patient has required further instrumentation and all void without difficulty. In the 15-year-old boy chordee has completely resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Using dorsal grafts to salvage an inadequate urethral plate during 1-stage penile island flap onlay reconstruction obviates flap tubularization.     

Guidelines for the treatment of urethral strictures

Over a period of 12 years 467 patients with urethral stricture were treated surgically at Tygerberg Hospital. The following surgical guidelines were developed: visual cold-knife urethrotomy should be the first line of treatment; urethroplasty is indicated when urethrotomy fails or is unfeasible; the urethroplasty of choice should be a single-stage operation; and staged procedures should be reserved for complicated cases.     

Substitution urethroplasty of complex and long-segment urethral strictures: a rationale for procedure selection

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the applications and outcomes of substitution urethroplasty, using a variety of techniques, in 65 patients with complex, long-segment urethral strictures. METHODS: From January 1995 to December 2005, 65 patients with complex urethral strictures >8cm in length underwent substitution urethroplasty. Of the 65 patients, 43 underwent one-stage urethral reconstruction using mucosal grafts (28 colonic mucosal graft, 12 buccal mucosal graft, and 3 bladder mucosal graft), 17 patients underwent one-stage urethroplasty using pedicle flaps, and 5 patients underwent staged Johanson's urethroplasty. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 4.8 yr (range; 0.8-10 yr), with an overall success rate of 76.92% (50 of 65 cases). Complications developed in 15 patients (23.08%) and included recurrent stricture in 7 (10.77%), urethrocutaneous fistula in 3 (4.62%), coloabdominal fistula in 1 (1.54%), penile chordee in 2 (3.08%), and urethral pseudodiverticulum in 2 (3.08%). Recurrent strictures and urethral pseudodiverticulum were treated successfully with a subsequent procedure, including repeat urethroplasty in six cases and urethrotomy or dilation in three. Coloabdominal fistula was corrected only by dressing change; five patients await further reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Penile skin, colonic mucosal, and buccal mucosal grafts are excellent materials for substitution urethroplasty. Colonic mucosal graft urethroplasty is a feasible procedure for complicated urethral strictures involving the entire or multiple portions of the urethra and the technique may also be considered for urethral reconstruction in patients in whom other conventional procedures failed.     

Treatment of Complex Anterior Urethral Stricture Disease With Mesh Graft Urethroplasty

Purpose

Treatment of complex anterior urethral strictures complicated by a lack of sufficient penile skin for primary flap repair has generally consisted of 2-stage scrotal inlay urethroplasty. Scrotal skin has shortcomings, most notably hair formation, diverticula and stricture recurrence from urine induced dermatitis. As an alternative, we present our results with staged mesh graft urethroplasty using split-thickness skin, which is nonhair-bearing, easier to size and seemingly less permeable to urine penetration.

Materials and Methods

Between 1990 and 1995, 20 men underwent mesh graft urethroplasty for complex strictures, most after failed urethroplasty. Meshed split-thickness skin graft from the thigh (17 men) or full-thickness foreskin (3) was used.

Results

Overall median time to closure was 5.5 months, and 6 men required revision before closure (revision of ostia in 3, chordee release in 2 and lysis of graft adhesions in 1). A successful outcome, as evidenced by retrograde urethrography and history, was achieved in 12 of 15 men (80%) with a median followup of 38 months. Five men have not undergone closure due to patient refusal (2) or because the graft is not ready to be closed (3). Of the failures 2 men had retrograde urethrographic evidence of stricture at the proximal anastomosis and 1 had recurrent stenosis of the entire neourethra by 2 years.

Conclusions

Mesh graft urethroplasty is not a panacea but it is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of complex urethral strictures, offering comparable results to and benefits over scrotal inlay procedures. In a significant percentage of cases it is a multistage rather than a 2-stage procedure.     

Dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty for repair of bulbar urethral stricture

PURPOSE: We report the early outcome of dorsal full-thickness penile skin grafts in the repair of bulbar urethral stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 27 months 29 men with a mean age of 43 years (range 10 to 81) underwent dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty. Followup included retrograde urethrogram at 3 weeks, 3 months and 12 to 18 months, and thereafter when needed. Urinary flow was recorded as subjectively reported by the patients. RESULTS: The technique was used only for bulbar urethral strictures. A total of 23 patients (79%) had undergone previous direct vision urethrotomy and/or open surgery. Dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty was used alone in 12 patients (41%), and was performed with partial stricture excision and ventral strip anastomosis in 13 (45%). In another 4 patients (14%) the procedure was combined with an Orandi flap because the stricture extended significantly into the penile urethra. Penile skin grafts were used in 27 patients (93%), whereas buccal mucosa was harvested in 2. Mean graft length was 6 cm. (range 3 to 9), and width ranged between 1.5 and 3 cm. Outcome was favorable in 28 patients (97%) for a median followup of 19 months (range 10 to 37). One patient had symptomatic proximal stricture recurrence and 3 had radiographic evidence of caliber decrease of the repair but with no impact on urinary flow. CONCLUSIONS: Dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty is a versatile procedure which may be combined with stricture excision and ventral strip anastomosis or an Orandi flap. Conceptually the technique offers the advantages of spread fixation of the graft on a fixed well vascularized surface, which may improve graft neovascularization, reduce graft shrinkage and avoid sacculation. Although the early outcome is promising, dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty has yet to stand the test of time.     

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.     

Johanson's staged urethroplasty revisited in the salvage treatment of 68 complex urethral stricture patients: presentation of total urethroplasty

BACKGROUND: To show our experience with the staged Johanson's urethroplasty as a salvage treatment of difficult and complicated groups of patients, and to present the total urethroplasty technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a 12-year period, 68 men with urethral stricture underwent the staged Johanson's urethroplasty. 51 had war-related injuries (75%) resulting in an unhealthy perineal and genital skin with fistulae and/or scarring. 35 patients (52%) had other urethral or vesical problems. 60 patients (88%) had long (0.5-4 cm), multiple or impassable strictures. 58 patients (85%) had strictures of the pendulous urethra. The second stage was performed 2-3 months after the first. Both stages of Johanson's urethroplasty were protected by a stab suprapubic catheter for 3 weeks. Patients were followed up for 23-82 months (mean 52.5). RESULTS: All patients but 4 had improved urine flow (best Qmax ranged between 13.2 and 31.8 ml/s; mean 17.4). 4 patients (6%) needed a revision because of fistula formation or recurrence and 6 patients (9%) developed urinary tract infection postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The staged Johanson's urethroplasty is a good treatment for the difficult and complicated urethral strictures which are not suitable for optical urethrotomy, especially those in the pendulous part. In strictures involving all parts of the urethra total urethroplasty could be performed.     

成人尿道下裂分期手术探讨

目的:探讨成人尿道下裂分期手术的必要性,提高成人尿道下裂的手术成功率。方法:回顾性分析我院泌尿外科2004年1月至2012年1月收治成人尿道下裂患者52例。52例男性患者,平均年龄22岁,所有患者过去均有尿道成形手术史,患者局部阴茎皮肤有瘢痕组织,均有阴茎下弯。术中行阴茎包皮脱鞘切除腹侧瘢痕纤维索带切断尿道板,仍存在阴茎下弯患者行阴茎背侧海绵体白膜折叠伸直阴茎,伸直阴茎后前尿道缺损长度占阴茎长度比例大于50%。根据术中是否行分期手术将患者分为两组,1组(20例)患者行I期包皮带蒂皮瓣卷管术尿道成型,2组(32例)患者阴茎伸直后将整个阴茎多余包皮转移至腹侧,做成形缝合为II期尿道成型预留尿道板,6¹2个月后行阴茎腹侧皮管卷管尿道成形术。结果:两组患者分别在Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期尿道成形术后发生尿瘘比例为50%、21.9%,尿道狭窄15%、9.4%,伤口感染30%、25%,尿道裂开20%、12.5%,尿道成形手术成功率分别为25%、56.3%。两组尿道成形术后发生尿瘘和尿道成形成功率的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),术后发生尿道狭窄、伤口感染及尿道裂开并发症的差异无统计学意义。结论:对有尿道下裂手术史的成人患者,尤其对那些阴茎下弯明显,前尿道缺损长且局部包皮材料不足的患者分期手术更适合,Ⅱ期尿道成形的成功率得到提高。     

One-stage penile/preputial island flap urethroplasty for urethral stricture

A 1-stage urethroplasty for urethral stricture with a vascularized island of distal penile or preputial skin, which is relatively hairless, is described. The results of 27 patients treated since August 1981 are reviewed.     

Experience with free grafts in urethral reconstruction

A total of 33 patients underwent hypospadias or epispadias repair by patch or tubular grafts of skin or bladder epithelium from July 1980 to January 1985. Indications included previous circumcision, proximal primary hypospadias, severe chordee alone, inadequate local skin during extended urethroplasty at 2-stage hypospadias repair, multiple previous reconstructions and failed epispadias repair. Genital skin grafts were used in 25 patients, extragenital skin grafts in 4 and bladder epithelial grafts in 4. Complications occurred in 13 patients (39.4 per cent): 8 required reoperation for a fistula, stricture or diverticulum, and 5 underwent internal urethrotomy or urethral dilation. Of the 8 patients 3 needed more than 1 revision. These revisions were short and generally uncomplicated. Final results uniformly were good functionally and cosmetically. Based on our experience and that of others we believe that despite a high incidence of minor complications a free graft serves as an excellent substitute urethra for treatment of a variety of urethral problems in children.     

One-stage penile/preputial cutaneous island flap urethroplasty for urethral stricture: a preliminary report

A 1-stage urethroplasty for urethral strictures is described using a transverse distal penile or preputial island of skin as a flap, which is supplied axially by the superficial external pudendal vessels. This portion of the skin is hairless and the pedicle is constructed so that the skin can reach anywhere from the external meatus to the prostatic urethra for reconstruction as a patch or tube. In 10 cases reviewed urethroscopically for intervals of 5 weeks to 6 months there was 100 per cent graft take with no stenosis at the anastomotic sites and no permanent fistula. There was 1 residual stricture owing to incomplete excision of the original stricture and 3 fine hairs were seen in 2 new urethras. Mucous membrane or mucocutaneous bridges occurred in 4 patients owing which were divided easily.     

Scrotal island flap urethroplasty in the management of bulbar urethral strictures

We describe our experience with 20 patients undergoing 1-stage scrotal island flap urethroplasty for severe bulbomembranous stricture disease. While 16 patients achieved satisfactory results, 4 required revision for recurrent stricture, diverticulum or fistula. Use of hairless skin and aggressive tailoring of the flap are stressed to avoid the common complications of diverticulum, hair ball and stone formation. This highly vascularized pedicle represents a reasonable alternative to staged repair when local tissue scarring is great and free full thickness skin graft viability is questionable.     

Stenosis of the urethra in children. Long-term results of surgical treatment

Thirty-six urethral strictures were treated between 1977 and 1984. Three strictures were considered to be congenital, eleven were traumatic and twenty-two were iatrogenic. The authors performed twenty five internal urethrotomies, twelve resection-sutures of the urethra and eleven urethroplasties including eight patch grafts with a pedicle derived from scrotal or penile skin, a tubed pedicle scrotal skin flap, one Jurascek urethroplasty and one Leveuf urethroplasty. Internal urethrotomy only gave 50% good results and is now reserved for short strictures less than one centimetre. Of resection-suture is an excellent operation which should be reserved for strictures less than two centimetres: it gave 84% of good results. One of the various types of pedicle cutaneous urethroplasty is certainly the best operation to treat long strictures: it gave more than 90% of good results in the present series.     

One-stage repair of long bulbar urethral strictures using augmented Russell dorsal strip anastomosis: outcome of 234 cases

Objectives

Long bulbar urethral strictures (>2 cm) are not amenable to stricture excision and primary anastomosis procedure, which may result in a short urethra and chordee formation. For such strictures many procedures have been advocated including stricturotomy with subsequent graft or flap onlay, augmented anastomosis, and staged procedures, which is a combination of the Russell graft. We present our 10-yr experience with the augmented Russell procedure using a ventral onlay buccal mucosal patch graft for treatment of long bulbar urethral strictures not amenable to excision and primary anastomosis.

Methods

A total of 234 patients diagnosed by urethrograms as having long bulbar urethral strictures (mean, 4.2 cm) were managed by the augmented Russell urethroplasty. The procedure included excision of most of the diseased segment (mean, 2.8 cm) and anastomosis of a dorsal strip leaving an oval ventral defect. Augmentation was done in all patients using a buccal mucosa patch graft (mean, 4.7 cm).

Results

Mean follow-up was 36 mo. Urethrograms were done at 3 wk and 3 and 6 mo postoperatively and if the patients were symptomatic thereafter. Urethrocystoscopy was performed at 12 and 18 mo. A total of 223 patients completed the follow-up protocol; the overall success rate was 93.7% with 14 (6.3%) patients showing stricture recurrence at different intervals postoperatively. Ten patients in the failure group were successfully managed by single visualized internal urethrotomy (VIU), whereas the other four patients were treated by ventral penile pedicled flap. Postoperative dribbling of urine was noticed by 90 patients (40.4%) and temporary perioral numbness in most patients; no major donor site complications were noted in our series.

Conclusion

The augmented Russell technique is beneficial for long bulbar urethral strictures; 93.7% of the patients were stricture free. In the bulbar region, both ventral and dorsal onlays are applicable with nearly equal success rates. The buccal mucosa patch graft offers excellent material for augmentation.