Is circumferential urethral mobilisation an overdo? A prospective outcome analysis of dorsal onlay and dorso - lateral onlay BMGU for anterior urethral strictures

The best method for erection function in urethroplasty; is excision and primary anastomosis or buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty?

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare erection function (EF) after Excision and Primary Anastomosis Urethroplasty (EPAU) and Buccal Mucosal Graft Urethroplasty (BMGU) in bulbar urethral stricture.

METHODS

Patients who underwent urethroplasty were identified retrospectively. The criteria for inclusion in the study were determined as being over 18 years old and under 70 years old, being sexually active. Exclusion criteria are; preoperative severe erectile dysfunction, stricture outside the bulbar urethra, psychosocial incompatibility, urethral stricture related to pelvic fracture, follow-up time less than a year. As the primary endpoint, the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) was determined as a comparison of EF in the preoperative and third, sixth and twelfth months after surgery. The secondary endpoint was the evaluation of the effects of demographic data, stricture and treatment characteristics on EF.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were identified considering the inclusion/exclusion criteria. It was observed that there were 30 patients who underwent EPAU and 20 patients who underwent BMGU. At the third month after surgery, EF showed a statistically significant decrease in the EPAU group. In both patient groups, it was observed that the early negative effects after the operation in EF started to improve in the sixth month and returned to the baseline level by the first year.

CONCLUSION

EPAU and BMGU techniques have a similar effect on EF in the medium and long term. Both methods can be used safely and effectively in the appropriate patient group.

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.

Anterior Urethroplasty for the Management of Urethral Strictures in Males: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To identify the currently utilised techniques of anterior urethroplasty described in literature for treatment of urethral strictures, assess the effectiveness of the identified techniques based on re-stricture and complication rates, evaluate, and suggest treatment options based on current evidence for urethral strictures at different locations and of different lengths.

METHODS

A systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases from conception up to September 2020 was performed. Primary outcomes included success rates measured via re-stricture rates and the post-operative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax). Secondary outcomes included patient reported complication rates.

RESULTS

A total of 52 papers, including 7 RCTs, met the inclusion criteria. Forty studies described the use of free graft urethroplasty with a median success rate of 86.5% (IQR = 8.1). The best outcomes were found in dorsal onlay buccal mucosa grafting in the penile urethra (86.6%). Twelve described the use of pedicled flap urethroplasty with a median success rate of 76% (IQR = 14.4). Excision and Primary Anastomosis results were reported in 5 studies and showed an overall highest success rate of 89.7% (IQR = 7.0) but involved the shortest strictures of median lengths of 2.1 cm (IQR = 0.48).

CONCLUSION

Graft urethroplasty showed optimal outcomes when utilised in penile and bulbar strictures, with dorsal onlay buccal mucosa grafting presenting with the largest evidence base and best outcomes overall. Flap urethroplasty had the highest success rates in panurethral and bulbar strictures, while anastomotic urethroplasty had the greatest success in bulbar and penobulbar strictures.

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.

Effects of spongioplasty on neourethral function following hypospadias repair: an experimental study in rabbits

Purpose:

Spongioplasty (mobilization and midline approximation of the two branches of the bifid dysplastic distal corpus spongiosum) can form a covering layer for the neourethra to prevent urethrocutaneous fistula in hypospadias repair surgery. However, it remains unclear whether spongioplasty affects neourethral function. The objective of this study was to compare neourethral function after hypospadias repair with and without spongioplasty.

Materials and Methods:

Fourteen congenital hypospadiac New Zealand male rabbits were randomly allocated into two groups, seven animals underwent Duplay hypospadias repair and spongioplasty (experimental group), while seven underwent Duplay surgery alone (control group). Functional differences between groups were assessed by comparing neourethral compliance and flow rate. Two months after surgery, in vivo neourethral compliance was assessed by measuring intraluminal pressure with a digital pressure meter of an isolated neourethral segment, following progressive distension with 1, 2, and 3mL of air. Penises were harvested for uroflowmetry test using a simple device.

Results:

Postoperatively, fistula developed in one and zero rabbits in the control and experimental groups, respectively. Mean pressures tended to be higher in the experimental group than in the control group (82.14 vs. 69.57, 188.43 vs. 143.26, and 244.71 vs. 186.29mmHg for 1, 2, and 3mL of air, respectively), but the difference was not statistically significant. Mean flow rates also did not significantly differ between the experimental and control groups (2.93mL/s vs. 3.31mL/s).

Conclusion:

In this congenital rabbit model, no obvious functional differences were found between reconstructed urethras after hypospadias repair with and without spongioplasty.