Surgical Outcome of Excision and End-to-End Anastomosis for Bulbar Urethral Stricture

Outcomes and predictive factors for re-stricture with urethroplasty methods for anterior urethra stricture

OBJECTIVES

We wished to compare the treatment success of urethroplasty methods (EPA and BMG) used for anterior urethra stricture after unsuccessful internal urethrotomy.

METHODS

A total of 85 and 51 patients, respectively, who underwent excision and primary anastomosis (EPA) and buccal mucosal graft (BMG) urethroplasty due to recurrent strictures after direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU) were evaluated retrospectively. On the uroflowmetry test, >15 ml/s urine flow and residual urine (PVR) below 50 ml were determined as success criteria. Cox regression analysis investigated the probable predictive factors for surgery success. Kaplan-Meier analysis assessed stricture free survival after redo-urethroplasty.

RESULTS

After surgery, EPA and BMG patients were followed for 31.9 ± 9.8 (4-40) and 30.7 ± 10.3 (4-40) months. At the end of this follow-up duration, success was obtained for 71 (83.5%) and 44 (86.3%) patients. Mean re-stricture times were 13.9 ± 6.0 (4-19) and 10.2 ± 5.1 (4-26) months. Most re-strictures had penile location (10 (71.5%) and 7 (100%)). After one session of DVIU, there was 100% success in both groups, but after >3 sessions of DVIU, success fell to 70.3% and 78.3% in the groups respectively. Patients with high numbers of DVIU sessions had longer durations for urethroplasty surgery. Apart from complications related to the donor field in the oral region with BMG and four patients who developed fistula (7.8%), complications were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series of cases, it was not possible to identify which of the techniques employed provides the best result or predictive factors for stenosis recurrence after correction procedures for anterior urethral stenosis.

Prospects and Challenges of Electrospun Cell and Drug Delivery Vehicles to Correct Urethral Stricture

Current therapeutic modalities to treat urethral strictures are associated with several challenges and shortcomings. Therefore, significant strides have been made to develop strategies with minimal side effects and the highest therapeutic potential. In this framework, electrospun scaffolds incorporated with various cells or bioactive agents have provided promising vistas to repair urethral defects. Due to the biomimetic nature of these constructs, they can efficiently mimic the native cells’ niches and provide essential microenvironmental cues for the safe transplantation of multiple cell types. Furthermore, these scaffolds are versatile platforms for delivering various drug molecules, growth factors, and nucleic acids. This review discusses the recent progress, applications, and challenges of electrospun scaffolds to deliver cells or bioactive agents during the urethral defect repair process. First, the current status of electrospinning in urethral tissue engineering is presented. Then, the principles of electrospinning in drug and cell delivery applications are reviewed. Finally, the recent preclinical studies are summarized and the current challenges are discussed.

[Results of anastomotic urethroplasty for male urethral stricture disease]

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience with anastomotic uretroplasty (AU) due to male urethral stricture disease (USD) and to identify factors affecting the results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study over a period of 4 years and 6 months (July 2012 to December 2016). Any subsequent use of endoscopic urethrotomy or new urethroplasty was considered a failure.

RESULTS

Forty-eight cases were included. The mean age of patients was 53.5±17.3 years (23-87 years). Urinary retention was the reason for consultation in 42 cases (87.5%). The most common localization of USD was the bulbar urethra (n=45). The mean length of USD was 1.23±0.62cm (0.5-3cm) with a median length of 1cm. The etiology was post-infectious in 56.3% of cases. More than half (58.3%) of patients had already undergone at least one urethral manipulation. After an average follow-up of 21.1±12.6 months (1 to 52 months), the overall success rate was 77.1%. In univariate analysis, length, cause and location of the stricture, age of patient, the presenting symptoms of the stricture, previous urethral manipulation and surgeon experience did not significantly impact on the success rate of anastomotic urethroplasty at one and two years follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The AU had provided good results in our practice. The infectious origin of the stricture and previous urethral manipulation did not significantly impact the result of this surgical technique.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Early removal of urinary catheter after excision and primary anastomosis in anterior urethral stricture

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility of removing the urinary catheter 7 days after excision and primary anastomosis (EPA) performed with the indication of anterior urethral stricture disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective review of medical records of the patients who had undergone EPA between January 2005 and December 2010 was performed. These patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (urethral catheter removed on or before 7. postoperative day) and Group 2 (urethral catheter removed on 8. postoperative day or later). We compared 2 groups as for the frequency of extravasation as detected on retrograde pericatheter urethrogram (PUG) and recurrence rate till the last follow-up.

RESULTS

PUG was performed on an average day 7 and 14 in Groups 1 (n=102) and 2 (n=134), respectively followed by removal of the catheter. Extravasation on the first PUG was detected in 6.8% of the patients in Group 1, and in 4.5% of the cases in Group 2 had extravasation on the first PUG. Urethral catheter was left in situ in these patients and a repeat PUG after one week was performed which was normal in all cases. The incidence of extravasation and recurrence rate did not differ significantly whether catheter was removed on day 7 or 14 (6.8% vs. 4.5% and 4.9% vs. 5.2% respectively) (p>0.5).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that removal of the catheter on postoperative day 7 after EPA does not increase the rate of extravasation and recurrence during long-term follow-up. Urethral catheter restricts physical activity in the postoperative period which is bothersome to the patient. Hence early removal of a catheter should be offered to men after EPA.