Mitomycin-C and urethral dilatation: A safe,effective, and minimally invasive procedure for recurrent vesicourethral anastomotic stenoses

Purpose

To report the safety and efficacy of mitomycin-C (MMC) injection followed by urethral dilatation for the treatment of recurrent vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS) post-radical prostatectomy, and to report the outcome for patients treated for concomitant postprostatectomy incontinence.

Materials and methods

A total of 29 patients with postprostatectomy incontinence and diagnosed with recurrent VUAS were recruited between March 2009 and January 2014 in this longitudinal case series. Under sedation, MMC was injected at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock position, followed by urethral dilatation to 26 F. Cystoscopy was performed to evaluate for patency at set intervals. Patients had the possibility to receive a salvage MMC injection if recurrence was noted. Patients with resolved VUAS were offered an anti-incontinence surgery.

Results

Median (interquartile range IQR]) patient age was 67 years (63–72). Overall, 17 patients had ≥2 prior treatments for the VUAS (median = 2, IQR: 1–3 treatments); 23 patients (79%) had a patent bladder neck at the 12 months follow-up cystoscopy after a single MMC injection and dilatation. Overall, 3 patients opted for a salvage MMC injection for recurrence, and 2 of those were salvaged, improving the success rate to 86%. No adverse events were reported. Overall, 20 patients (69%) opted for an anti-incontinence surgery, and all were either cured or improved of their incontinence after a median (IQR) follow-up of 58 months (48–77).

Conclusions

MMC injection with urethral dilatation is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment option for recurrent VUAS after radical prostatectomy. Favorable long-term results can be expected even after anti-incontinence procedures.