Staged urethroplasty in the management of complex anterior urethral stricture disease

Staged buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty has emerged as a reliable procedure for difficult anterior urethral strictures not amenable to one-stage graft or flap reconstruction. It has primarily been used for strictures and/or fistulae occurring after previous surgery for hypospadias or those related to lichen sclerosus (LS). Success rates in these patient populations have improved when compared to earlier techniques. However, prior studies have demonstrated a number of patients requiring more than two procedures to complete the reconstruction, as well as some who have been content with their voiding pattern after the first operation and therefore elected to forego second stage tubularization. In this setting, we have reviewed the surgical technique and summarized previously published work. There may be an opportunity to complete more of these repairs in two operations using additional oral mucosa at the time of tubularization.     

Rational and selective management of patients with anterior urethral stricture disease

Introductionthe management of anterior urethral stricture is controversial. A review article was written, which updates the current situation of the surgical treatment of anterior urethral stricture.Materials and methodsthe experience of the Hospital del Trabajador in Santiago de Chile regarding its different surgical approaches, as well as scientific literature on the topic, were reviewed.Resultstraditionally, anterior urethral stricture has been treated using minimally invasive techniques (dilatation and internal urethrotomy), which are unable to cure more than 30-35% of patients. On the other hand, urethral reconstruction surgery (urethroplasty) is more complex and requires training, however it can cure a wide majority of patients in a single surgical procedure. Due to a lack of experience and training in reconstructive surgery, non-invasive methods are overused and abused, to the detriment of the patients’ quality of life. There is substantial evidence that internal urethrotomy is an excellent method for treating stricture of up to 1 cm in length, however its efficacy decreases drastically above 1.5 cm. Notwithstanding, urethroplasty is directly indicated for larger strictures, especially if prior urethrotomy failed.Conclusionthis procedure must be managed selectively, applying the appropriate treatment aimed at curing and not only palliating the disease. Urologists must be better trained in urethroplasty and/or centres of excellence must be established to be able to offer the best treatment in each case.     

Endoscopic management of urethral stricture

Experience with transurethral management of urethral stricture using conventional urethroscope and resectoscope of both infant and adult size is reported and the surgical procedure described. Because incision, dilation, and resection of the stricture are done under direct visual control, it is safe and applicable even in severe strictures hitherto untreatable with other refined closed methods.     

前尿道狭窄的病因和治疗

前尿道狭窄的发生率有增高趋势,如治疗不当,会进一步加重尿道损伤而造成复杂性前尿道狭窄,难于处理。近年来在其治疗上取得了很大进步,但多数泌尿外科医师对此病认识不足,治疗上存在差异,可能导致并发症的发生。     

前尿道内支架管在治疗前尿道狭窄中的应用

目的:观察在前尿道狭窄患者中留置前尿道支架管的临床疗效。方法:选取2005年1月至2008年5月在本院住院治疗及进行门诊尿道扩张的患者共38例作为治疗组,并将同期在本院采取尿道扩张器扩张的患者38例纳入对照组,通过最大尿流率(Qmax)及扩张次数等指标对两组的临床疗效进行对比分析。结果:尿流率检测表明留置支架管后所有患者的Qmax均较术前明显增加,对拔管后6个月随访结果进行分析,治疗组Qmax>15ml/s的患者显著多于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:采用前尿道内留置支架管治疗前尿道狭窄不但显著减少扩张次数,减轻患者的经济负担,也显著改善患者的生活质量,前尿道狭窄患者中留置前尿道内支架管不失为临床上一种较好的治疗手段,并取得了良好的预期效果,简单易行,效果确切,值得推广。     

Urethroplasty for refractory anterior urethral stricture.

PURPOSE: We present our results managing anterior urethral strictures previously treated with urethroplasty and/or urethrotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 32-month period 69 males 10 to 76 years old (mean age 36) underwent treatment for anterior urethral stricture, including 32 (46%) and 26 (38%) previously treated with urethroplasty and urethrotomy, respectively. In 11 patients (16%) no previous procedures had been done. Anastomotic and dorsal patch urethroplasty was performed for bulbar stricture in 13 and 14 cases, respectively, while in 4 a penile skin flap was placed for penile stricture and in 38 a 2-stage procedure was done with urethral substitution using buccal mucosa or post-auricular skin grafts. Patients were followed with ascending urethrography at 3 weeks, and 12 and 18 months as well as with uroflowmetry. Symptoms were assessed for 6 months to 4 years. RESULTS: Only 1 stricture recurred in patients treated with anastomotic or patch urethroplasty, or a skin flap. Of the patients scheduled for a 2-stage procedure stage 1 revision was required due to graft scarring or stenosis at the urethrostomy site in 21% and stage 2 revision was required in 23%. Other complications in this series included fistula in 3% of cases, wound infection in 3% and post-void dribbling in 12%. CONCLUSIONS: Overall early results are good in our urethroplasty series in patients with a previously instrumented urethra. Patients should be advised of the possible need for multiple revisions of planned staged procedures. The increased rate of revision in these staged procedures compared with the excellent outcome of 1-stage procedures appears to be inherent in this operation in patients with multiple previous procedures rather than due to surgeon experience.     

Excision and primary anastomosis for anterior urethral stricture

Excision with spatulated primary anastomosis (EPA) is an excellent reconstructive option for short bulbar urethral strictures with success rates between 90 and 95% in appropriately selected patients. Patient selection requires a careful history, physical examination, and radiographic staging. Failure with this reliable method is caused by inadequate excision of urethral stricture and incomplete mobilization of the urethra with excessive anastomotic tension. Complications that include wound and urinary tract infections, chordee, and erectile dysfunction, are uncommon. EPA warrants strong consideration as a first line treatment due to its excellent and durable long-term results.     

Apparent congenital anterior urethral stricture in brothers.

Anterior urethral strictures of apparent congenital origin are reported in brothers and the literature is reviewed.     

Surgical management of urethral stricture in the male

Urethral dilatation has long been the standard treatment for patients with urethral stricture. However, in many patients such dilatations may be difficult, painful, or have to be done at frequent intervals. The alternative techniques of direct vision urethrotomy or urethroplasty have been considered in 101 patients over a twelve-year period. Skin inlay urethroplasty in this series showed a significant level of complications and an absolute failure rate of 15 per cent. A prospective study of 39 patients undergoing urethrotomy using the Sachse optical urethrotome has shown that 82 per cent of patients are symptom-free and 13 per cent symptomatically improved at a follow-up ranging from sixteen months to three and one-half years (mean twenty-five months). We believe that urethrotomy using the Sachse optical urethrotome should now be the initial treatment of choice in the management of urethral stricture. Urethral dilatations or urethroplasty should be reserved for those patients who have persisting stricture despite such urethrotomy.     

Urethrovasocutaneous fistula in a case of anterior urethral stricture

The occurrence of an urethrovasocutaneous fistula is an extremely rare event. We report the first case of such a fistula in a patient with anterior urethral stricture. The patient had epididymo-orchitis preceding the occurrence of the fistula. Increased intravesical and intraurethral pressure during voiding and the patulous ejaculatory ducts were the predisposing factors in this case. The patient was managed successfully by visual internal urethrotomy, bilateral vasectomy and excision of the fistula.     

Contemporary management of urethral trauma and the post-traumatic stricture

This review discusses the contemporary management of urethral trauma and post-traumatic urethral strictures occurring in both the anterior and posterior urethra. Experience in the full spectrum of urethral reconstructive procedures is important. The initial management of patients relies upon adequate drainage of the bladder and management of any other associated acute life-threatening injuries. The principles of urethral reconstruction in both the anterior and posterior urethra are discussed, with reference to the recent literature on the subject.     

The management of urethral stricture after kidney transplantation

Objective

To investigate the incidence and causes of urethral stricture after kidney transplantation, as well as analyze its diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Methods

Clinical data of patients who developed urethral stricture after living-donor kidney transplantation in our center between January 2007 and June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Urethral stricture occurred in 8 of the 677 eligible kidney recipients (1.18 %) during the study period; the complication occurred at a mean of 4.4 months (range 2–7 months) after transplantation. Cystoscope-related iatrogenic injury and urinary tract infection seemed to be the most likely causes. In addition to frequency and dysuria, three patients had hydronephrosis and four had elevated serum creatinine levels. Urethrography showed that the urethral stricture was anterior in two patients and posterior in the remaining six. Two patients were treated by urethral dilation, four by internal urethrotomy and two by urethra reconstruction surgery. All patients urinated readily after treatment and four patients with impaired renal function recovered.

Conclusion

Urethral strictures after kidney transplantation are rare, and they can be safely and effectively treated by urethral dilation, internal urethrotomy or urethra reconstruction. Avoiding iatrogenic injury and shortening catheterization time may help reduce the risk of this complication.     

Complications and management of childhood urethral stricture disease

In many ways, the management of urethral stricture disease in children parallels that in adults, but striking differences exist. The technical demands made because of the small size of the strictures and the delicacy of the tissues involved certainly provide more of a challenge. Newer instrumentation, improved techniques, and increased experience in children are helping us to meet these challenges. Visual urethrotomy should be considered the initial treatment of choice for anterior urethral strictures, and urethroplasty should be reserved for treatment failures. Attention to technical detail and proper patient preparation will ensure optimum results from urethroplasty. Posterior urethral strictures as a result of pelvic injury can be influenced by proper initial management but remain an open surgical disease of considerable challenge. The fact that in children a large proportion of urethral stricture disease is iatrogenic provides us with a real opportunity for prevention. As with any disease state, prevention or minimization of complications of treatment is the ultimate goal. It is only through a careful, thoughtful approach that we can begin to achieve that end.     

Long-term management of luminal urethral stricture in women

Introduction and hypothesis

The objective was to report our long-term experience of luminal urethral stricture (LUS) in women treated with dilation under general anesthesia.

Methods

Following institutional review board approval, charts of women who underwent urethral dilation (UD) under general anesthesia for LUS and had over 6 months’ follow-up were reviewed. LUS was confirmed by urethroscopy. UD was performed using female dilators with guidewire and Heyman dilators when required. Outcome measures included the number of UD procedures and the duration and frequency of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Success was defined as the ability to void without repeat UD and with no need for CIC 1 year after UD. Possible predictive variables were analyzed.

Results

Between 2000 and 2013, a total of 30 out of the 32 women who underwent UD for LUS met the inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up was 59 (range: 7 to 151) months. Thirteen women in the success group showed improvement in the mean maximum flow rate (pre 11 ml/s to post 27.8 ml/s) and post-void residual (pre 85 ml to post 43 ml). In the failure group of 17 patients, 2 required chronic CIC 1 year after a single UD. Fifteen opted for repeat UD. After second (n?=?5), third (n?=?2), and fourth (n?=?2) UD, 9 patients came off CIC and reported durable satisfaction. Four women remained on regular CIC. Two required a permanent suprapubic catheter.

Conclusion

At a mean follow-up of 5 years, UD for LUS produced durable resolution in 43 % of our patients. Another 30 % fully benefited from repeat UDs. Shorter duration of symptoms before presentation was significantly associated with success.

     

Three new experimental models of anterior urethral stricture in rabbits

BackgroundThis study describes and compares three surgical procedures for the construction of urethral stricture (US) models in rabbits.MethodsForty adult male rabbits were allocated to four groups: 36 rabbits were randomly assigned to three experimental groups, while the remaining 4 were assigned to a sham group. The penis was separated from the rectum. Then along the ventral midline, a longitudinal penile skin incision was made while ensuring that the urethral mucosa was intact and the muscular layer was not completely incised. In group 1 (n=12), ventral semi-circumferential mucosa electrocoagulation of a 1-cm length of the anterior urethra was performed until ulceration occurred. In group 2 (n=12), the ventral urethral mucosa was incised, and electrocoagulation of the dorsal semi-circumferential mucosa was performed. In group 3 (n=12), whole-circumferential mucosa electrocoagulation was performed. In group 4 (n=4), no special treatment was performed. Four weeks later, urethrography, urethroscopy, and histological evaluation were carried out.ResultsThe weights of the rabbits in the four groups were comparable. There was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 with regard to operative time, but the operative time in these groups was significantly longer than that in group 1 (group 2 vs. group 1: P<0.05, group 3 vs. group 1: P<0.001). After the surgery, urinary fistula with infection occurred in one rabbit in group 1, and one rabbit died due to urethral atresia in group 3. According to the urethrography and urethroscopy findings, 9 out of 12 rabbits in group 1, 5 out of 12 rabbits in group 2, and 11 out of 11 rabbits in group 3 developed US, while no rabbits in the sham group developed US. Histopathological examination revealed injury to the urothelium, inflammatory infiltration, a decrease in the amount of blood vessels and smooth muscle fibers, and a decrease in the amount of collagen fibers.ConclusionsCompared with the semi-circumferential procedures, the whole-circumferential procedure had a higher success rate. Therefore, this procedure seems to have potential for the construction of long-segment rabbit US models.