Erectile and Ejaculatory Dysfunction After Urethroplasty

Outcomes of transecting versus non-transecting urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess outcomes of transecting vs non-transecting urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture in terms of stricture recurrence rate, sexual dysfunction, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) related to lower urinary tract (LUT) function.

METHODS

Electronic literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases. The studied population was limited to men with bulbar urethral stricture included in studies that compared outcomes after transecting and non-transecting urethroplasty. The main outcome appraised was the stricture recurrence rate. Additionally, the incidence of sexual dysfunction appraised in three domains (erectile function, penile complications, and ejaculatory function) and PROMs related to LUT function after transecting vs non-transecting urethroplasty were assessed. The pooled risk ratio (RR) respectively for stricture recurrence, erectile dysfunction and penile complications was calculated using a fixed-effect model with inverse variance method.

RESULTS

In all, 694 studies were screened with 72 identified as relevant. Finally, 19 studies were suitable for analysis. The pooled difference between the transecting and non-transecting groups relating to stricture recurrence was not significant. Overall, the RR was 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-1.36) and the 95% CI crossed the line of no effect (line RR = 1). Overall, the RR for erectile dysfunction was 0.73 (95% CI 0.49-1.08) and the 95% CI crossed the line of no effect (line RR = 1). Overall, the RR for penile complications was 0.47 (95% CI 0.28-0.76) and the 95% CI did not cross the line of no effect (line RR = 1). Hence, the risk of penile complications was significantly lower in the non-transecting group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis of available evidence indicates that both transecting and non-transecting urethroplasties, are equal in terms of the recurrence rate. On the other hand, non-transecting techniques are better in terms of sexual function, causing less penile complications.

Erectile and Ejaculatory Function Following Anterior Urethroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

The degree of change in erectile (EF) and ejaculatory function (EjF) according to validated questionnaires following anterior urethroplasty and different techniques is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the evidence on EF and EjF evaluated via validated questionnaires following anterior urethroplasty.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021229797) of the literature was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. The PubMed and CENTRAL databases were searched on February 1, 2021, with an updated search performed on December 1, 2021. Studies evaluating EF and/or EjF using validated questionnaires in men aged ≥18 yr following anterior urethroplasty were included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Overall, 29 studies (two randomised and 27 nonrandomised) were included. The questionnaire most commonly used to evaluate EF and EjF was the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ), respectively. The incidence of postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED) was 0-38% and the mean change in EF score according to the IIEF ranged from -4.0 to 2.5. The incidence of postoperative ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) was 7.7-67% and the mean change in EjF score according to the MSHQ-EjD was 0.7-7.0. Meta-analyses revealed a mean difference of -0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.50 to -0.23; p = 0.008) in IIEF-EF score and 1.77 (95% CI 0.61-2.93; p = 0.003) in MSHQ-EjF score following anterior urethroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

EF and EjF may be affected following anterior urethroplasty and men should be counselled appropriately. Owing to the variation in questionnaires and cutoff scores used, EF and EjF outcomes following different urethroplasty techniques are heterogeneous, with limited data from randomised controlled trials. An agreement on questionnaires and cutoff scores should be established to allow consistent reporting. Future research should aim to investigate best approaches for minimising sexual dysfunction.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Surgical repair of the urethra (urethroplasty) used to treat narrowing of the urethra (urethral stricture) may affect erectile and ejaculatory function. Different questionnaires and definitions are used to evaluate sexual function, so it is hard to compare data. The degree of disruption can be affected by different techniques and the severity of disease.

Recent Trends and Advances in Anterior Urethroplasty

While patient preference often helps guide treatment decisions, poor long-term success combined with cumulative risk of repeat endoscopic treatments and the complications innately associated with urethral stricture emphasize that urethroplasty is most often the best choice for successful treatment in the long-term. This has led to the need to better refine urethroplasty techniques and optimize patient outcomes. Urethroplasty has now largely transitioned to a day-surgery procedure in the majority of centers. Some evidence suggests that avoiding urethral transection and/or avoiding overzealous urethral mobilization may lead to a reduction in post-operative sexual dysfunction. The trend toward single stage penile urethroplasty with buccal mucosal grafts likely minimizes patient morbidity without compromising urethroplasty success. For urethroplasty success to further improve particularly in patients at high risk for stricture recurrence, the synergistic potential of combining wound healing enhancing agents with evolving tissue-engineering represents an exciting future opportunity in the quest to perfect urethroplasty outcomes.

To Transect or Not Transect: Results from the Scandinavian Urethroplasty Study, A Multicentre Randomised Study of Bulbar Urethroplasty Comparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis Versus Buccal Mucosal Grafting

BACKGROUND

Open surgical treatment of short bulbar urethral strictures (urethroplasty) is commonly performed as transecting excision and primary anastomosis (tEPA) or buccal mucosa grafting (BMG). Erectile dysfunction and penile complications have been reported, but there is an absence of randomised trials.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate sexual dysfunction and penile complications after urethroplasty with tEPA versus BMG.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Centres in Finland, Sweden and Norway participated. Patients with a bulbar urethral stricture of ≤2 cm without previous urethroplasty were randomised. The primary endpoints were the degree of erectile dysfunction and penile complications. Follow-up was 12 mo.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomised to either tEPA or BMG urethroplasty.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Sexual dysfunction was measured using the International Index of Erectile Function, 5-item version (IIEF-5) and a penile complications questionnaire (PCQ) designed for this study. Continuous data were analysed using analysis of covariance and categorical data were compared using a χ² test.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 151 patients were randomised to either tEPA (n = 75) or BMG (n = 76). The tEPA group reported more penile complications (p = 0.02), especially reduced glans filling (p = 0.03) and a shortened penis (p = 0.001). There were no differences in postoperative IIEF-5 total scores. Recurrence rates were similar in both groups (12.9%) but the study was not designed to detect differences in recurrence rates. The PCQ is not validated, which is a limitation.

CONCLUSIONS

More patients reported penile complications after urethroplasty with tEPA than with BMG. This should be considered when choosing the operative method, and patients should be informed accordingly.

PATIENT SUMMARY

This study compared two common operations for repair of narrowing of the male urethra. Neither of the two methods seems to cause worsened erections. However, penile problems are more common after the transection technique than after the grafting technique.