Vaginal Flap Urethral Reconstruction: An Alternative to the Bladder Flap Neourethra

Abstract

Vaginal flap urethral reconstruction was done in 10 women who sustained total or partial loss of the urethra, and extensive damage to the vesical neck and trigone due to operative complications. In all patients a neourethra was constructed by rolling a vaginal flap into a tube and covering the anastomosis with a labial pedicle fat pad graft and vaginal flap. Five patients underwent a concomitant pubovaginal sling procedure, 3 had a modified Pereyra operation and 1 had a modified Kelly plication. Postoperatively, 9 of the 10 patients had a satisfactory neourethra but 3 required a generous meatotomy to facilitate micturition. Two patients required temporary intermittent self-catheterization. Of the 10 patients 6 were completely continent after a single reconstruction, which included an anti-incontinence repair. Of the patients with postoperative incontinence 2 subsequently were cured with a pubovaginal sling and 1 had a vesicovaginal fistula that was successfully repaired transvaginally. These results support our contention that a vaginal flap urethral reconstruction combined with an appropriate anti-incontinence operation offers a viable and simple alternative to bladder flap urethral reconstruction.