Management of Symptomatic Urethral Diverticula in Women: A Single-centre Experience

Abstract

BackgroundUrethral diverticula (UDs) affect between 1% and 6% of adult women. A total of 1.4% of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have a UD. Clinically significant diverticula are rare and can be challenging to manage. ObjectiveTo review results of surgery on UDs in a single surgical centre. Design, setting, and participantsWe retrospectively evaluated a group of 89 patients with symptomatic UDs referred for surgical intervention to one teaching hospital. Data were from two surgeons over an 8-yr period between October 2004 and November 2012. Follow-up period ranged from 3 mo to 20 mo, and all patients were physically reviewed postoperatively in an outpatient setting. InterventionThe surgical technique involved placing the patient prone, ureteric catheterisation, dissection and removal of the diverticulum, and layered closure. Where a large defect was present following excision, a Martius flap was interposed. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisOutcome data collected included symptomatic cure, continence, de novo SUI, early versus late complications, and recurrence. Results and limitationsEarly complications included one urinary tract infection and one Martius graft infection, both requiring intravenous antibiotics. Overall, 72% of patients were dry and cured postoperatively; 13 patients had de novo SUI following surgery. Those with bothersome SUI went on to have an autologous sling at 6 mo. All were dry; three (23%) required clean intermittent self-catheterisation. Three patients had a recurrent residual diverticulum (3.4%) following surgery. One chose conservative management. The other two had a redo diverticulectomy performed via a dorsal approach. They have recovered well and are dry. Two (2.2%) diverticula revealed unexpected abnormal pathology. The first was a leiomyoma; the second was a squamous cell carcinoma requiring further surgery. ConclusionsThe recommended preoperative imaging is postvoid sagittal magnetic resonance imaging and appropriate use of urodynamic assessment at baseline. The 72% dry rate (including a number with preoperative incontinence) is comparable with the literature as is the development of de novo SUI in 15% of patients. There is a small risk of unexpected tumours (2%). Patient summaryA urethral diverticulum should be excluded as a diagnosis in anyone troubled by symptoms of a swelling of the urethra often associated with discomfort, pain on intercourse, urinary dribbling after passing urine, and/or recurrent urinary infections. In these circumstances patients should seek advice from their doctors and consider referral for a specialist assessment. If the diagnosis is made and the problem is symptomatic, surgery is likely to resolve the problem but should be carried out in a specialist centre with expertise in the management of this condition.