Urethral meatus preserving ventral onlay augmentation urethroplasty for female urethral stricture: our technique with initial experience

Abstract

BackgroundFemale urethral stricture (FUS) is an uncommon cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. Reconstructive techniques are being increasingly used for strictures resistant to the more conservative form of management. Most forms of reconstruction require cutting open of urethral meatus, thereby resulting in some loss of the meatus function. We hereby describe the technique of urethral meatus sparing ventral onlay mucosal graft augmentation urethroplasty with our initial experience.MethodsWe performed this procedure in 10 cases of FUS with normal meatus and prospectively studied the outcomes over a period of 6 months follow-up.ResultsThere was 90 percent success rate with one recurrence. The mean Qmax increased from 7.2 to 19.5 ml/s, mean post-void residual urine (PVRU) decreased from 96.5 to 22.7 ml and the mean IPSS decreased from 26.1 to 5.7. There were no major complications noted and the patients demonstrated significant subjective and objective improvement of symptoms in the follow-up period.ConclusionThe technique of meatus sparing ventral onlay augmentation graft urethroplasty is a promising approach with good outcomes, is reproducible and has minimal complication rate.