Dorsal versus ventral strip augmented anastomotic bulbar urethroplasty: retrospective study

Decision regret and long-term success rates after ventral buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty

OBJECTIVES

To characterise the long-term success rate of ventral onlay buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (vBMG) in the management of bulbar urethral stricture disease (USD), assess patient-reported postoperative satisfaction and decision regret, and delineate clinical factors impacting patient-reported metrics.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Patients with prior vBMG for bulbar USD, performed at Cleveland Clinic between 2003 and 2022, were contacted and brief structured interviews were performed. Stricture recurrence and need for secondary procedures, baseline demographics, and patient-reported outcome surveys were collected. The surveys included the Decision Regret Scale (DRS), the Urethral Stricture Symptom Impact Measure (USSIM) and the 10-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Short Form, version 1.2 (PROMIS-10). Descriptive, univariate and multivariable analyses were performed for clinical outcomes and survey responses.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients recorded responses. The median patient age was 49 years and the median follow-up was 7.4 years at time of survey. The median graft length was 5 cm and 38% of patients underwent partial thickness augmented anastomotic urethroplasty. At time of follow-up, 10 patients underwent a secondary procedure. Moderate to severe regret on the DRS was found in 12% of patients, and greater regret was associated with recurrence. The mean physical and mental health PROMIS-10 Global Health T-scores were 52 and 53. The mean total USSIM score was 56. A significant correlation was found between USSIM and DRS scores, with higher DRS score and recurrence negatively impacting USSIM score. USSIM scoring across all domains was significantly worse in the moderate to severe DRS group.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that vBMG for bulbar USD confers both high success rates and patient-reported satisfaction at extended follow-up, based on emerging and validated patient-reported outcome measures.

Mucomucosal anastomotic non-transecting augmentation (MANTA) urethroplasty: a ventral modification for obliterative strictures

OBJECTIVES

To present a surgical modification for the repair of bulbar urethral strictures containing short, highly obliterative segments and report on long-term objective and patient-reported outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We considered patients undergoing bulbar buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty (BMGU) between July 2016 and December 2019. Eligibility criteria for mucomucosal anastomotic non-transecting augmentation (MANTA) urethroplasty were strictures of ≥2 cm with an obliterative segment of ≤1.5 cm. The stricture is approached ventrally to avoid extensive dissection and mobilisation. Dorsally, the scar is superficially excised and the spongiosum is left intact. Dorsal mucomucosal anastomosis is complemented by ventral onlay graft. Perioperative characteristics were prospectively collected including uroflowmetry data and validated patient-reported outcome measures on voiding, erectile, and continence function. We evaluated functional follow-up, incorporating patient-reported (lower urinary tract symptoms [LUTS] score) and functional success. Recurrence was defined as need of re-treatment.

RESULTS

Of 641 men treated with anterior BMGU, 54 (8.4%) underwent MANTA urethroplasty. Overall, 26 (48%) and 45 (83%) had a history of dilatation and urethrotomy, respectively, and 14 (26%) were redo cases. Location was bulbar in 38 (70%) and penobulbar in 16 patients (30%), and the mean (SD) graft length was 4.5 (1.4) cm. At a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 41 (27-53) months, the functional success rate was 93%. Whereas the median LUTS score significantly improved from baseline to postoperatively (13 vs 3.5; P < 0.001), there was no change in erectile function (median International Index of Erectile Function - erectile function domain score 27 vs 24) or urinary continence (median International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence Short Form sum score 0 vs 0; all P ≥ 0.4). All patients were 'satisfied' (27%) or 'very satisfied' (73%) with the outcome of their operation.

CONCLUSION

With excellent long-term objective and patient-reported outcomes, MANTA urethroplasty adds to the armamentarium for long bulbar strictures with a short obliterative segment.

Management of men with ultra-short penile urethral stricture using augmented anastomotic penile skin flap urethroplasty; a retrospective analysis

Background

The management of short anterior urethral stricture is challenging. Our study aims to evaluate the outcome of augmented anastomotic urethroplasty (AAU) for the management of men with ultra-short penile urethral stricture, and to compare it with the dorsal onlay buccal mucosa graft.

Methods

Databases of two tertiary referral centres were retrospectively reviewed to retrieve data of men with ultra-short penile urethral stricture who underwent urethroplasty from 2013 to 2020. Patients who underwent AAU with ventral onlay pedicled skin flap were considered the study group, while patients treated with the dorsal onlay graft augmentation were included as controls. Surgical outcomes included urethral patency, improvement in the maximum flow rate (Qmax), change in sexual satisfaction, and any reported complications.

Results

Thirty-four patients (and 30 controls) with a median age of 26–27 years were included in the study. The maximum flow rate improved significantly in both groups compared to the preoperative value (p < 0.001). The success rate was 88% in the study group compared to 76.7% in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of postoperative penile curvature nor the ventral sacculation between the two groups (p = 0.788 and 0.913). The operative time was statistically significantly longer in the control group (p = 0.044), while the frequency of postoperative void dripping was much higher in the study group (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

The success rate and complications of AAU for men with ultra-short penile urethral stricture were comparable to the dorsal buccal graft.

Lichen sclerosis-induced long segment anterior urethral stricture: The early outcome of one-stage repair using dorsolateral onlay buccal mucosa graft

BACKGROUND

Substitution urethroplasty using buccal mucosal grafts can be performed by several approaches including ventral onlay graft, dorsal onlay graft, or ventral urethrotomy with dorsal inlay graft. Our study aims to evaluate the surgical outcome of dorsolateral buccal mucosal graft for long segment anterior urethral stricture >6 cm in patients with Lichen sclerosus (LS).

METHODS

A retrospective study included patients who underwent repair for long segment anterior urethral stricture >6 cm due to LS between January 2013 and April 2019. All patients were followed-up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively and then yearly by clinical symptoms, uroflowmetry, and calculation of post-void residual urine volume. Retrograde urethrogram was requested for patients with voiding symptoms or decreased maximum flow rate. Stricture recurrence that required subsequent urethrotomy or urethroplasty was considered failure. The success rate and surgical complications were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were identified. The median age (range) was 39 (25-61) years and a median (range) stricture length was 8 (6-14) cm. Most of postoperative complications were of minor degree. The success rate at median follow-up of 15 (12-24) months was 86.5%. The median maximum flow rate increased significantly from 6 (2-11) ml/s preoperatively to 18 (range: 6-23) ml/s at the 6th month (p value < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Dorsolateral buccal mucosal grafts urethroplasty for long anterior urethral stricture caused by LS has a high success rate and low risk of complications including stricture recurrence.