Dorsal inlay buccal mucosal graft (Asopa) urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture

Scaffold-based tissue engineering strategies for urethral repair and reconstruction

Urethral strictures are common in urology; however, the reconstruction of long urethral strictures remains challenging. There are still unavoidable limitations in the clinical application of grafts for urethral injuries, which has facilitated the advancement of urethral tissue engineering. Tissue-engineered urethral scaffolds that combine cells or bioactive factors with a biomaterial to mimic the native microenvironment of the urethra, offer a promising approach to urethral reconstruction. Despite the recent rapid development of tissue engineering materials and techniques, a consensus on the optimal strategy for urethral repair and reconstruction is still lacking. This review aims to collect the achievements of urethral tissue engineering in recent years and to categorize and summarize them to shed new light on their design. Finally, we visualize several important future directions for urethral repair and reconstruction.

Tailor-made natural and synthetic grafts for precise urethral reconstruction

Injuries to the urethra can be caused by malformations, trauma, inflammation, or carcinoma, and reconstruction of the injured urethra is still a significant challenge in clinical urology. Implanting grafts for urethroplasty and end-to-end anastomosis are typical clinical interventions for urethral injury. However, complications and high recurrence rates remain unsatisfactory. To address this, urethral tissue engineering provides a promising modality for urethral repair. Additionally, developing tailor-made biomimetic natural and synthetic grafts is of great significance for urethral reconstruction. In this work, tailor-made biomimetic natural and synthetic grafts are divided into scaffold-free and scaffolded grafts according to their structures, and the influence of different graft structures on urethral reconstruction is discussed. In addition, future development and potential clinical application strategies of future urethral reconstruction grafts are predicted.

Narrative review of penile distal urethroplasties and suggestions for optimizing outcomes

Distal urethral strictures can be a challenging entity for urologists. Endoscopic maneuvers such as optical internal urethrotomies or dilations are even less successful than in other urethral locations and the repeated trauma will increase the scarring which advocates for a urethroplasty as primary option for patient management. Success rates of distal urethroplasties have been lower than those for other urethral strictures due to the anatomy of the distal urethra with a very thin corpus spongiosum associated with decreased mucosal blood supply. Also, the high prevalence of lichen sclerosus in this population with circumferential scarring is often a complicating factor. However, in the past two decades several surgical techniques have been described and further developed which has led to significant improvement in stricture recurrence rates. Meatoplasties are indicated for strictures limited to the meatus and involve opening of the stenotic meatus with subsequent reconstruction of it to minimize spraying of urine. Often, however, distal urethral strictures involve the fossa navicularis and may even extend further proximally. These strictures can be addressed with dorsal or ventral inlay procedures using buccal mucosa graft. In addition or alternatively, skin flaps can be mobilized to increase the urethral diameter. Lastly, multi-stage urethroplasty with buccal mucosa are a very successful approach yet given the high success rates of above mentioned procedures are usually reserved for revision surgery or most severe distal urethral strictures. In the following report, we are describing a variety of surgical techniques and their indication which should allow the practicing urologist to successfully address all encountered distal urethral strictures.

Novel use of Asopa technique for penile urethrocutaneous fistula repair

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility of ventral urethrotomy, dorsal inlay (Asopa) technique in management of urethrocutaneous fistula. The Asopa technique has been employed for management of urethral stricture repair but has not been described in adult penile urethrocutaneous fistula.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of IRB-approved databases of patients undergoing urethral reconstruction from two urologic reconstruction units. In this technique, the fistulous tract is circumscribed and excised, leaving a larger ventral urethral defect with healthy edges. The ventral-sagittal urethrotomy is extended, a dorsal urethrotomy made, and a graft inlaid dorsally to augment the urethral caliber prior to tension-free closure of the ventral urethrotomy.

RESULTS

From 2010 to 2019, ten patients underwent repair of urethrocutaneous fistula using the Asopa technique. Median patient age was 33.5 years (IQR 35.5). All fistulae involved penile urethra, eight had concomitant adjacent urethral stricture. Five patients failed prior hypospadias repair, three developed fistulae after surgery for penile urethral stricture, and two developed fistulae after extensive debridement (hidradenitis and Fournier's gangrene). Of these ten patients, oral mucosa graft was used in nine and preputial graft in one to augment the urethra. At median follow-up of 50.5 months (IQR 26.5), 80% (8/10) of patients demonstrated durably patent urethra, with no recurrence of fistula.

CONCLUSION

The Asopa technique is an established option for augmenting urethral caliber for urethral stricture disease. We demonstrate in our series that this technique can be applied to patients with urethrocutaneous fistulae.

Factors Predicting Urethral Stricture Recurrence after Dorsal Onlay Augmented, Buccal Mucosal Graft Urethroplasty

INTRODUCTION

This study was carried out to identify the predictors of urethral stricture recurrence after dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft (BMG) urethroplasty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of patients with anterior urethral stricture who underwent dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty at a single tertiary medical center during the period from March 2010 to January 2018 were reviewed. Only patients with ≥2-year follow-up were included. Data regarding patient demographics, clinical characteristics, stricture characteristics, postoperative course, and adverse events were recorded. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the recurrence-free survival and likelihood of stricture recurrence. Cox regression analysis was used to identify potential independent predictors of stricture recurrence.

RESULTS

This study included 266 patients with a mean age of 37.71 years and a mean follow-up period of 49.77 months. From the overall study cohort, 34 (12.8%) reported stricture recurrence and 232 (87.2%) were not. The mean recurrence-free time was 79.93 months and mean time to recurrence was 21.59 months. On multivariate analysis, obesity (hazard ratio (HR): 6.02; 95% conference interval (CI): 1.91, 19.03: p = 0.002), inflammatory aetiology (HR: 9.13; 95% CI: 3.50, 23.81; p < 0.001), prior urethroplasty (HR: 8.81; 95% CI: 3.26, 23.86; p < 0.001), penile stricture location (HR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.10, 8.71; p = 0.033), and stricture length >4.5 cm (HR: 6.83; 95% CI: 1.69, 27.62; p = 0.007) were the significant independent predictors of stricture recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty has a reasonable recurrence-free rate with acceptable postoperative complications. Obesity, inflammatory etiology, prior urethroplasty, penile stricture location, and longer stricture were the factors associated with urethral stricture recurrence.

Contemporary Management of Bulbar Urethral Strictures

Urethral stricture disease (USD) is a progressive scar-forming disease commonly encountered by urologists and is challenging to manage. USD most frequently occurs in the bulbar urethra. Patients typically present with chronic obstructive voiding symptoms but may develop recurrent urinary tract infections, detrusor failure, or renal disease. The authors review the pathophysiology, diagnostic workup, and evidence-based management of bulbar urethral strictures (BUS). There are multiple surgical options to treat BUS. Endoscopic techniques (eg, dilation and urethrotomy) are suitable for the initial management of short strictures but new evidence-based guidelines recommend against repeated endoscopic treatment. Urethroplasty is the gold standard treatment for BUS of all lengths, with anastomotic techniques appropriate for strictures <2 cm and tissue substitution performed for longer strictures. New techniques, such as non-transecting urethroplasty, lack long-term data but may represent a paradigm shift in the field. Future treatments may utilize tissue-engineered grafts and agents that inhibit inflammation and scar formation.

Overview of surgical techniques in gender-affirming genital surgery

Gender related genitourinary surgeries are vitally important in the management of gender dysphoria. Vaginoplasty, metoidioplasty, phalloplasty and their associated surgeries help patients achieve their main goal of aligning their body and mind. These surgeries warrant careful adherence to reconstructive surgical principles as many patients can require corrective surgeries from complications that arise. Peri-operative assessment, the surgical techniques employed for vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, metoidioplasty, and their associated procedures are described. The general reconstructive principles for managing complications including urethroplasty to correct urethral bulging, vaginl stenosis, clitoroplasty and labiaplasty after primary vaginoplasty, and urethroplasty for strictures and fistulas, neophallus and neoscrotal reconstruction after phalloplasty are outlined as well.

Better defining the optimal management of penile urethral strictures: A retrospective comparison of single-stage vs. two-stage urethroplasty

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to compare single-stage and two-stage urethroplasty techniques for the treatment of penile urethral strictures.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all penile urethroplasties performed at a single centre between 2003 and 2017. The primary outcome was urethral patency, defined as the ability to easily pass a 16 Fr flexible cystoscope at six and 18 months of followup, and development of 90-day complications.

RESULTS

Overall, 101 single-stage procedures (48 buccal mucosal graft [BMG] and 53 penile fasciocutaneous flap [PFF]) and 53 two-stage procedures were performed. There was no difference in median stricture length between groups (p=0.25). Cox regression analysis did not identify stricture etiology, length, age, obesity, prior reconstruction, or urethroplasty technique to be associated with failure. Log-rank testing did not demonstrate a difference in success rates between surgical techniques (91% [48/53] PFF vs. 83% [40/48] BMG vs. 87% two-stage [46/53]). Thirty-nine percent (60/154) of patients experienced a complication (51% [27/53] PFF vs. 29% [14/48] BMG vs. 36% [19/53] two-stage). Multivariate analysis found urethroplasty technique to be the only factor associated with development of complication (p=0.02); odds ratio relative to BMG was 3.1 (p=0.009) for PFF and 1.4 (p=0.43) for two-stage.

CONCLUSIONS

There appears to be little difference in success between penile urethroplasty techniques. The shift in technique to a single-stage BMG, when appropriate, appears to be founded on the basis of fewer operations for the patient, relative to a two-stage repair, and a lower complication profile, relative to single-stage PFF, without compromising success rates.

Outcome of buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty: a detailed analysis of success, morbidity and quality of life in a contemporary patient cohort at a referral center

BACKGROUND

To evaluate outcome of buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (BMGU) for the treatment of urethral stricture disease, including a detailed analysis of success, morbidity and quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

Between 12/05/2008 and 07/21/2010, 187 patients with urethral stricture disease, who were treated with BMGU at our University Medical Center, received a standardized questionnaire, evaluating postoperative success, morbidity and QoL. The primary endpoint was the success, i.e., stricture recurrence-free survival plus patients' satisfaction with surgery. Secondary endpoints included erectile function, voiding symptoms, pain and health-related QoL, which were assessed with a modified Urethral Stricture Surgery Patient Reported Outcome Measure (USS PROM), including the Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF), Incontinence Questionnaire Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Module (ICIQ-MLUTS) and EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D).

RESULTS

In total, 83 patients (51.9%) completed the questionnaire. Bulbar, penile and panurethral strictures were found in 69 patients (83.1%), 13 patients (15.7%) and one patient (1.2%), respectively. The median length of the stricture was 5 cm (range: 1-16). At a median follow-up of 46 months (range: 36-54), 65 patients (78.3%) had no stricture recurrence and were satisfied with BMGU. Median scores for ICIQ-MLUTS, IIEF-EF and EQ-5D visual analogue scale were 6, 22 and 80, respectively. Based on USS PROM, postoperative improvement of QoL and satisfaction with BMGU was found in 67 patients (80.7%) and 68 patients (81.9%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with urethral stricture disease, BMGU offers excellent success, morbidity and QoL.

Double inlay plus ventral onlay buccal mucosa graft for simultaneous penile and bulbar urethral stricture

OBJECTIVES

Buccal mucosa grafts and fascio-cutaneous flaps are frequently used in long anterior urethral strictures (1). The inlay and onlay buccal mucosa grafts are easier to perform, do not need urethral mobilization and generally have good long-term results (2-4). In the present video, we present a case where we used a double buccal mucosa graft technique in a simultaneous penile and bulbar urethral stricture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 54 year-old male patient was submitted to appendectomy where a urethral catheter was used for two days in May 2015. Three months after surgery, the patient complained of acute urinary retention and a supra-pubic tube was indicated. Urethrocystography was performed two weeks later and showed strictures in penile and bulbar urethra with 3.5 cm and 3 cm in length respectively. Urethroplasty was proposed for the surgical treatment in this case. We used a perineal approach with a ventral sagittal urethrotomy in both strictures. Penile urethra stricture measuring 3.5 cm in length was observed and a free graft from the buccal mucosa was harvested and placed into the longitudinal incision in the dorsal urethra and fixed with interrupted suture as dorsal inlay. Bulbar urethra stricture measuring 3 cm was observed and a free graft from the buccal mucosa was harvested and placed into the longitudinal incision in the ventral urethra and fixed with interrupted suture as ventral onlay. The ventral urethrotomy was closed over a 16Fr Foley catheter and the skin incision was then closed in layers.

RESULTS

No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. The patient could achieve satisfactory voiding and no complication was seen during the six-month follow-up. Postoperative imaging demonstrated a widely patent urethra, and the mean peak flow was 12 mL/s.

CONCLUSION

The BMG placement can be ventral, dorsal, lateral or combined dorsal and ventral BMG in the meeting of stricture but the first two are most common (5, 6). Ventral location provides the advantages of ease of exposure and good vascular supply by avoiding circumferential rotation of the urethra (7). Early success rates of dorsal and ventral onlay with BMG were 96 and 85%, respectively. However, long-term follow-up revealed essentially no difference in success rates (8-11). Anterior urethral stricture treatments are various, and comprehensive consideration should be given in selecting individualized treatment programs, which must be combined with the patient's stricture, length, complexity, and other factors. Traditionally, anastomotic procedures with transection and urethral excision are suggested for short bulbar strictures, while longer strictures are treated by patch graft urethroplasty preferably using the buccal mucosa as gold-standard material due to its histological characteristics. The current management for complex urethral strictures commonly uses open reconstruction with buccal mucosa urethroplasty. However, there are multiple situations whereby buccal mucosa is inadequate (pan-urethral stricture or prior buccal harvest) or inappropriate for utilization (heavy tobacco use or oral radiation). Multiple options exist for use as alternatives or adjuncts to buccal mucosa in complex urethral strictures (injectable antifibrotic agents, augmentation urethroplasty with skin flaps, lingual mucosa, colonic mucosa, and new developments in tissue engineering for urethral graft material). In the present case, our patient had two strictures and we chose to correct the first stricture with a dorsal graft and the bulbar stricture with a ventral graft because of our personal expertise. We can conclude that the double buccal mucosa graft is easier to perform and can be an option to repair multiple urethral strictures.