Urethral reconstruction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To present an up-to-date review on the main surgical techniques used to treat urethral strictures. RECENT FINDINGS: Anterior urethroplasty can be treated in outpatient surgical settings, thus decreasing the impact of urethroplasty. To improve outcome in adult patients, reconstructive surgeons have learned to apply the principles of hypospadias surgery, such as delicate tissue handling, avoidance of overlapping suture lines, tissue and the development of preputial skin flaps, to adult urethral surgery. Penile skin has been used as a free graft or harvested as a flap for some time, thanks to its location, hairless skin and durability. Since the early 1990s the use of buccal mucosa was introduced in genital reconstructive surgery and has become popular for complex urethral reconstructions. The use of fibrin glue was recently suggested to fix the buccal mucosal graft in a better way and to cover the anastomosis between the graft and urethral plate. SUMMARY: Urethral reconstructive surgery is changing rapidly and this change has posed problems for surgeons who see the principles that previously defined their profession becoming obsolete or unworkable. New techniques, new tools, such as fibrin glue, and new engineered material are a part of our future.     

尿道狭窄最佳术式选择的探讨

近半个世纪以来,尿道狭窄的手术方式已经发生了显著的变化。如今,绝大多数的尿道狭窄都可以通过手术进行修复重建。尿道狭窄的病因、长度和位置是选择手术方式的重要依据。操作者在术前必需熟悉多种尿道重建的手术方法以便处理术中遇到的各种情况。目前,反复的尿道扩张和尿道内切开是错误的,应该摈弃。开放性尿道手术成功率高,长期疗效确切,在很多情况下应该作为首选。本文就各种尿道狭窄手术方式的选择及操作要点做一介绍。     

Surgical Management of Fossa Navicularis and Distal Urethral Strictures

Purpose of Review

Urethral reconstruction has evolved in the last several decades with the introduction of various techniques including fasciocutaneous skin flaps and buccal mucosal grafts. However, distal urethral strictures have continued to be a reconstructive challenge due to tendency for adverse cosmetic outcomes, risks of glans dehiscence or fistula formation, and stricture recurrence.

Recent Findings

The surgical options for treatment of distal urethral strictures have changed throughout the years; however, there is no one universally accepted technique for their treatment. The current trend for treatment is shifting away from multi-staged procedures or the use of local skin flaps to single-stage transurethral procedures that utilize buccal mucosa with glans preservation.

Summary

This chapter will describe the evolution of distal urethral stricture treatments tracking gradual improvements and modifications over time. The different interventions include transurethral approaches, such as dilations and visual urethrotomy, meatotomy, and meatoplasty/urethroplasty techniques including genital skin flaps and single- and double-stage repairs with buccal mucosal grafts.

     

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.     

Reconstructive Management with Buccal Urethroplasty

We present the historical evolution of the use of buccal mucosa in reconstructive surgery, from the first application in ophthalmology to paediatric surgery and, finally, urethral surgery. This process spanned 99 yr, from 1894 to 1993. The harvesting of buccal mucosa from the cheek requires careful preoperative patient evaluation and selection. To avoid postoperative complications related to the harvesting site, we provide some suggestions based on a large series of patients. The use of a one- or two-stage repair procedure in penile urethroplasty is discussed, and some step-by-step surgical techniques are suggested. The reconstruction of the bulbar urethra using buccal mucosa in traumatic and nontraumatic strictures is also discussed, and different techniques are presented. Finally, appraisal and discussion of some challenging topics (eg, evidence for efficacy, complications, implications, worldwide use) concerning the use of buccal mucosa for urethral stricture reconstruction are presented based on the current literature.Patient summaryWe looked at the history and evolution of the use of buccal mucosa for reconstructive urethral surgery and found that harvesting the buccal mucosa from the cheek is a safe procedure. The use of buccal urethroplasty represents the gold standard in the management of patients with anterior urethral strictures.     

Urethral stricture in children: treatment by urethroplasty with bladder mucosa graft.

Urethral strictures in children, which are not frequent, often require urethroplasty when dilations and/ or urethrotomies have failed. A bladder mucosa graft was used successfully for urethral reconstruction to treat posterior hypospadias. We describe our experience with a bladder mucosa graft during urethroplasty for acquired urethral strictures in 8 children. Urethral strictures secondary to the treatment of hypospadias were excluded. Bladder mucosa was used successfully as an onlay or patch graft urethroplasty in 7 patients. One patient had a tubularized graft with secondary stenosis treated successfully by dilation.     

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.     

Endoscopic urethroplasty with unseeded small intestinal submucosa collagen matrix grafts: a pilot study

PURPOSE: We evaluated small intestinal submucosa (SIS) as a substitute for skin in endoscopic urethroplasty performed as treatment for inflammatory and iatrogenic strictures of the male bulbar urethra, and in the early treatment of bulbomembranous urethral injuries associated with recent pelvic fractures. Tissue integration and epithelialization of SIS in endoscopic urethroplasty were assessed, as was the long-term maintenance of urethral patency following this treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients with bulbar urethral strictures defined by urethrography were enrolled in the study. Following optical urethrotomy the SIS grafts were tubularized over a purpose specific graft carrying balloon device and secured into the opened urethra as described for endoscopic urethroplasty. Patients were followed with urethroscopy and urethrography at regular intervals as per protocol or when symptoms arose. Failure was defined as the need for any further intervention. RESULTS: Two patients with short inflammatory strictures maintained urethral patency without any intervention at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Stricture recurrence developed in 6 patients within 3 months of surgery. Of these, 3 have undergone subsequent open urethroplasty, 2 are currently awaiting urethroplasty and 1 is maintaining urethral patency with regular self-dilatation. One patient was lost to followup. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic urethroplasty with unseeded SIS grafts was unsuccessful in this study.     

Narrative review of penile distal urethroplasties and suggestions for optimizing outcomes

Distal urethral strictures can be a challenging entity for urologists. Endoscopic maneuvers such as optical internal urethrotomies or dilations are even less successful than in other urethral locations and the repeated trauma will increase the scarring which advocates for a urethroplasty as primary option for patient management. Success rates of distal urethroplasties have been lower than those for other urethral strictures due to the anatomy of the distal urethra with a very thin corpus spongiosum associated with decreased mucosal blood supply. Also, the high prevalence of lichen sclerosus in this population with circumferential scarring is often a complicating factor. However, in the past two decades several surgical techniques have been described and further developed which has led to significant improvement in stricture recurrence rates. Meatoplasties are indicated for strictures limited to the meatus and involve opening of the stenotic meatus with subsequent reconstruction of it to minimize spraying of urine. Often, however, distal urethral strictures involve the fossa navicularis and may even extend further proximally. These strictures can be addressed with dorsal or ventral inlay procedures using buccal mucosa graft. In addition or alternatively, skin flaps can be mobilized to increase the urethral diameter. Lastly, multi-stage urethroplasty with buccal mucosa are a very successful approach yet given the high success rates of above mentioned procedures are usually reserved for revision surgery or most severe distal urethral strictures. In the following report, we are describing a variety of surgical techniques and their indication which should allow the practicing urologist to successfully address all encountered distal urethral strictures.     

Dorsal inlay buccal mucosal graft (Asopa) urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture

Asopa described the inlay of a graft into Snodgrass’s longitudinal urethral plate incision using a ventral sagittal urethrotomy approach in 2001. He claimed that this technique was easier to perform and led to less tissue ischemia due to no need for mobilization of the urethra. This approach has subsequently been popularized among reconstructive urologists as the dorsal inlay urethroplasty or Asopa technique. Depending on the location of the stricture, either a subcoronal circumferential incision is made for penile strictures, or a midline perineal incision is made for bulbar strictures. Other approaches for penile urethral strictures include the non-circumferential penile incisional approach and a penoscrotal approach. We generally prefer the circumferential degloving approach for penile urethral strictures. The penis is de-gloved and the urethra is split ventrally to exposure the stricture. It is then deepened to include the full thickness of the dorsal urethra. The dorsal surface is made raw and grafts are fixed on the urethral surface. Quilting sutures are placed to further anchor the graft. A Foley catheter is placed and the urethra is retubularized in two layers with special attention to the staggering of suture lines. The skin incision is then closed in layers. We have found that it is best to perform an Asopa urethroplasty when the urethral plate is ≥1 cm in width. The key to when to use the dorsal inlay technique all depends on the width of the urethral plate once the urethrotomy is performed, stricture etiology, and stricture location (penile vs. bulb).     

Die plastische Rekonstruktion der Harnröhre

There is no technique which can be used in all types and localizations of urethral strictures. Urethral strictures occur in the majority of cases in the bulbar urethra. The success rate of urethroplasty is above 80% and results are much better compared to DVIU. Dorsal onlay shows a significantly better success rate than ventral onlay. If the graft bed has poor vascularization a flap should be used or a staged approach should be considered.     

Anterior urethral strictures: a brief review of the current surgical treatment

A review of the recent literature on the surgical management of anterior urethral stricture was performed. The literature was searched via PubMed using the search terms 'urethral stricture' and 'urethroplasty' from 1996 to 2009. The management of anterior urethral strictures is changing rapidly in the sense that the reconstructive procedures have evolved greatly. Penile skin, because of its location and because it is hairless, has been popular and used for a long time. Since the early 1990s, buccal mucosa graft (BMG) was introduced in urethral reconstructive surgery and has become the first choice of most practicing urologists. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of lingual mucosa graft with various doctors reporting easy harvesting and lesser morbidity in comparison to BMG. Also, fibrin glue has recently been used to fix the graft with promising results. With the success of tissue-engineered materials that are still in the experimental phase, the urologist would no longer be limited by the quantity of the graft. These substitutes will also boost the appealing scarless endoscopic urethroplasty. This article provides a brief up-to-date review of the main surgical techniques in the management of anterior urethral stricture disease for the contemporary practicing urologists. Present controversies have been given special emphasis. The possible future techniques and the future of the anterior urethral stricture surgery are also discussed in brief.     

Management von Harnröhrenstrikturen

Urethral strictures represent a relevant problem, particularly among urological patients, since they can also develop in conjunction with endourological instrumentation. After functional and radiological diagnostics, the choice of an individualized treatment concept is foremost while taking into consideration minimally invasive endourological procedures and techniques of surgical reconstruction. The best long-term results for this disorder, which has a considerable tendency to recur, are achieved with open reconstructive methods whereas urethrotomy pursues a curative approach only in cases of short-segment bulbar urethral strictures without spongiofibrosis.     

Innovative approaches for complex penile urethral strictures

Urethral strictures are a common urologic disease that arises from varied etiologies. These strictures range in severity from simple, short lesions to complex, long defects. Likewise, the management approach varies based on the complexity of the lesion. We reviewed the literature of urethral stricture disease and its management. In particular we have focused on complex strictures of the male penile urethra. Often these cases cannot be managed with traditional reconstructive techniques and require newer approaches. Furthermore tissue engineered graft materials provide a possible tissue source for future reconstructive endeavors.     

尿道下裂术后尿道狭窄的预防及再手术术式选择

目的：探讨尿道下裂术后尿道狭窄的预防及再手术术式选择。方法：对53例尿道下裂术后尿道狭窄病例的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果：53例中获访45例，其中尿道外口狭窄或闭锁行尿道外口成形12例，8例治愈；26例单纯吻合口狭窄行狭窄段剖开、切除吻合或一期尿道重建，17例治愈；新尿道全部瘢痕狭窄行广泛切除一期尿道重建4例，2例治愈；尿道造瘘二期尿道重建3例，2例治愈。结论：尿道狭窄是尿道下裂术后严重的并发症，关键在于预防，应根据不同的情况选择合理的治疗方法。     

儿童尿道下裂术后尿道狭窄的治疗体会

目的分析尿道下裂术后发生狭窄的原因及治疗。方法对37例发生术后尿道狭窄的患儿,根据狭窄的部位和不同的原因分别采取尿道扩张和手术治疗。结果37例尿道狭窄患儿术后随访6个月至2年,其中5例还需尿道扩张,余均获满意效果。结论尿道狭窄是尿道下裂术后严重的并发症,关键在于预防,应根据不同的情况选择合理的治疗方法。     

Two-stage urethroplasty. Improved method for treating bulbomembranous strictures.

Twelve years' experience with a two-stage urethroplasty for the surgical management of severe and complicated urethral strictures in 200 patients is summarized. The techniques used, including a modification of the Johanson urethroplasty for bulbomembranous urethral strictures and for multiple strictures without splitting the scrotum, are discussed. The most usual complications of these procedures are reported, as well as how to deal with them, and long-term final results are given. The principles of these procedures are surgically sound, considering the pathology of the strictures. At no time after urethroplasty were urethral dilatations necessary in these 200 patients.     

Reconstruction of urethral erosion in men with a neurogenic bladder

OBJECTIVE

To describe the surgical outcomes and operative technique for reconstructing catheter‐induced urethral erosion in men with a neurogenic bladder.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective study of 11 men (median age 45 years, range 26–52) who had elective urethroplasty for urethral erosion between 2004 and 2007 by one surgeon (C.M.G.). All men had a diagnosis of neurogenic bladder and indwelling catheter‐induced urethral erosion. Reconstructive techniques included primary closure in six men, substitution urethroplasty with a penile skin graft in three, penile skin flap in one and a buccal mucosa graft in one. A two‐stage approach was used in one man.

RESULTS

The median (range) length of erosion from the meatus before surgery was 6 (4–10) cm. The repair was successful in seven men at a mean (range) follow‐up of 25 (8–46) months. Of those with recurrence of erosion, the median length of the resultant defect was 2 (2–3) cm. All recurrences were in the first five patients of this series. The median time to recurrence of erosion was 1 month and recurrence did not appear to be related to any particular surgical technique. Urethral catheter traction after surgery appeared to be one of the factors related to repair breakdown.

CONCLUSION

The reconstruction of catheter‐induced urethral erosion in men with a neurogenic bladder is feasible. Primary closure appears to be the best reconstructive method for urethral erosion, and avoiding catheter traction after surgery contributes to successful urethroplasty.