Bladder Mucosal Graft Research Articles

Preliminary results of a new surgical technique: bladder mucosal graft harvested with holmium:YAG (HO:YAG) laser. A new option in bulbar replacement urethroplasty?

To describe the technique of transurethral harvesting of bladder mucosal graft using the Holmium:YAG (Ho-YAG) laser and describe the preliminary results from 7 cases where this graft was used for urethroplasty. We performed a single-stage dorsal onlay urethroplasty using bladder mucosal graft in 7 patients with anterior urethral stricture. Transurethral harvesting was performed with the Ho-YAG laser. We performed a prospective and descriptive analysis with uroflowmetry performed at 30, 90 and 180 days after surgery and applied the PROM translated into Portuguese before and 6 months after urethroplasty. Seven patients were included, 2 (28.5%) with penile urethral stricture, and 5 (71.5%) with bulbar urethral stricture. Mean stricture length was 50mm (range 35-60mm). Stricture etiology was trauma in 3 (42.9%) patients, iatrogenic in 1 (14.3%) patient, and idiopathic in 3 (42.9%) patients. Two patients (28.6%) had previously undergone ventral buccal mucosa urethroplasty. Mean bladder mucosal graft length was 52.86mm (± 13.801), and mean harvest time was 46.43min (± 14.639). Dorsal onlay urethroplasty using bladder mucosa was successfully completed in 5 patients (71.4%). Two patients (28.6%) couldn't have the procedure completed using bladder mucosa, one due to thermal damage of the graft during harvesting, and one due to insufficient graft length. In both cases the procedure was completed using buccal mucosa. Two patients (28.6%) experienced minor hematuria between the twelfth and eighteenth postoperative day, but neither required hospitalization and/or additional procedures. All patients achieved normalization of peak flow, and this was maintained throughout the follow-up period. Mean peak flow was 17.8 ml/s (± 3.271) at 30 days, 20.6 ml/s (± 5.413) at 90 days, and 19.6 ml/s (± 8.019) 180 days. Mean IPSS score decreased from 19.3 to 5.4. Similar improvements were also seen in the ICIQ-MLUTS Score (a mean drop from 3.8 to 2.0) and Peeling's Voiding Picture Score (a mean drop from 4.0 to 2.2). Quality of Life improved post urethroplasty, with increases in EQ-5D (from 0.6371 to 0.7285) and EQ-VAS (from 58.0 to 84.0). Transurethral harvesting of bladder mucosa using the Holmium laser (Ho-YAG) is feasible and reproducible. Our preliminary experience suggests that bladder mucosa grafts achieve comparable results to other grafts when used for dorsal onlay urethroplasty. Further research is needed to confirm these results.

Ventral onlay graft urethroplasty using bladder mucosa in a cat with a urethral stricture.

A 3-year-old, 4.0 kg, intact male domestic shorthair cat presented with postoperative dysuria following urethral resection and anastomosis for urethral rupture. Retrograde urethrography revealed a stricture in the pelvic urethra. Urethroplasty with bladder mucosa was performed following a bilateral pubic-ischial osteotomy. The bladder wall was resected to harvest an appropriately sized bladder mucosa graft. The graft was placed over the urethral defect in patch fashion and stabilized with interrupted sutures. The cat was able to urinate normally with no evidence of lower urinary tract signs 2 year postoperatively. Therefore, urethroplasty with an onlay bladder mucosa graft may be a feasible alternative to prepubic or subpubic urethrostomy for the treatment of pelvic urethral stricture in cats.

V20 - Endoscopic holmium laser harvesting of bladder mucosal graft for female urethroplasty

V20 - Endoscopic holmium laser harvesting of bladder mucosal graft for female urethroplasty

Tunneled tubularized bladder mucosal grfaft for long urethral reconstruction: is it a reliable option in selected complex cases in children and adolescents?

Aim: We analyzed the use of tubularized tunneled bladder mucosa graft (TBMG) and its application as a salvage procedure or as primary surgery for long urethroplasty in children and adolescents. Specific attention was given to a new method to harvest a long bladder mucosa graft through a minimal detrusotomy. Methods: We analyzed the files of 10 patients who underwent TBMG urethroplasty at median age of 105 months (range 20-195 months). The indications were perineal hypospadias cripple in two, masculinizing genitoplasty for ovotesticular Ovotesticular Disorder of Sex Development (DSD) in two, perineal hypospadias in four, duplicated urethra in one, and complications of circumcision in one. Staged reconstruction was performed in all patients. The first stage was removal of all fibrous tissues and efficient treatment of curvature and skin coverage. After a minimal delay of one year, a free bladder mucosa graft was harvested through a minimal detrusotomy and tubularized. Tunneling of the graft was proceeded from the perineal urethrostomy to the glans. Results: The graft was successfully harvested through the minimal detrusotomy approach for variable lengths of urethroplasty; the median length was 10.5 cm (range 8-16 cm). The median follow up was 61.7 months (range 18-160 months). TBMG was the last surgery with no redo in five cases (50%). Long stricture occurred in one case of primary perineal hypospadias and needed a redo staged surgery. Two patients performed self-dilatation for distal stenosis. Conclusion: The tunneled bladder mucosa tube graft technique represents a good alternative for a long urethroplasty in patients with a paucity of healthy skin. The minimal detrusotomy technique for graft retrieval may reduce graft harvesting morbidity.

Graft procedure on urethroplasty, in comparison with flap procedure: a literature review

Urethroplasty is a surgical procedure to reconstruct urethral patency on urethral stricture. There are several options for repairing urethral stricture in general, one of the examples is using graft or flap for augmentation urethroplasty. The indications of augmentation urethroplasty with graft are bulbar or penile urethral stricture, risk of tension on urethral anastomosis, and stricture more than 1 cm. Graft is less reliable because it has to be revascularized, easier to harvest, on the other hand flap has generous blood supply, but it was time-consuming to collect and to dissect. In case of bulbar urethral stricture with intact corpus spongiosum, graft had more advantages rather than flap because the anatomy of the urethra moves proximally giving thicker and more robust ventrally, and makes the graft suitable on vascular bed. Plenty of sites can be used to harvest graft for urethroplasty, there are buccal mucosa, genital skin, extragenital skin, lingual mucosa, bladder mucosa, and colonic mucosal graft. Although the treatment of urethroplasty depends on the length and location of stricture until today the comparison between the use of graft and flap in urethroplasty is still controversy and under debate.Some studies reported higher success rates in grafts than flaps procedure, but only few studies showed statistically significant difference. However, grafts procedure is easier, less operative time, and less morbidity, therefore leading to satisfaction in most of the patients.

Free bladder mucosa graft harvested by water-jet: A novel, minimally invasive technique for urethral reconstruction.

The aim of the current study was to describe a novel approach of urethral reconstruction through minimally invasive harvesting of the bladder graft via endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection of water-jet. The records of two patients were reviewed, who underwent transurethral endoscopic surgical bladder mucosa graft harvest by water-jet and urethral reconstruction with informed consent. Case 1 was a 35-year-old male with anterior urethral stricture; case 2 was a 22-year-old male with secondary anterior urethral stricture and hypospadias following a failed hypospadias surgery. The two male patients successfully underwent urethral reconstruction using bladder mucosa graft harvested via endoscopic assisted by water-jet; no perforation, cysthemorrhagia or any other postoperative bladder-related complication was observed. Voiding cystourethrogram of case 1 indicated that the reconstructed urethra was unobstructed, and no recrudescence was observed within 4 months of follow-up. In case 2, dysuria had disappeared completely within 1 month of follow-up, and the urethra plate was successfully reconstructed by first-stage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate urethral reconstruction using a bladder mucosa graft harvested by transurethral endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection, assisted by water-jet. Transurethral endoscopic surgery may provide a minimally invasive approach instead of the traditional open surgery for harvesting bladder mucosa graft. Urethral reconstruction conducted with bladder mucosa graft harvested via endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection assisted by water-jet is a feasible and safe method, and the short-term follow-up results are encouraging.

Proximal hypospadias repair with bladder mucosal graft: Our 10 years experience

A great variety of different surgical techniques has been described for proximal hypospadias repair and an ideal tissue has not been determined yet. We present our 10 years of surgical experience using a bladder mucosal graft for urethroplasty. Bladder mucosal graft urethroplasty was performed between 2005 and 2015 in 50 patients with severe proximal hypospadias. The mean age of patients was 45.1 months (range 24-164 months). Hypospadias were perineal in 18 patients, scrotal in 22, and penoscrotal in 10. In all cases a chordee correction was performed and median time between the first and the second stages was 12 months (mean 17 months, range 4-68 months). Both foley catheter and a suprapubic cystostomy were positioned and maintained for 2-4 weeks. Follow-up was performed at 1-3 and 6-12 months after surgery, and afterwards annually with clinical examination and flowmetry test. Mean follow-up was 5.3 years (median 5, range 1-10 years). Mean graft length was 57.4mm (median 55mm, range 35-85mm). Among all the only early complication registered was a postoperative infection in one patient (2%) at the site of anastomosis. The long-term complications observed were urethrocutaneous fistula in nine patients (18%), urethral stricture in 15 patients (30%), meatal stricture in four patients (8%), and prolapse of meatus in seven patients (14%). The mean time of complication occurrence was 15 months (median 15.5 months, range 1-96 months). The functional and cosmetic appearance after surgery was satisfactory in 42/50 patients (84%) during the follow-up period. There is still an open debate regarding the optimal surgical approach for management of severe proximal hypospadias. Compared with other approaches, our technique showed acceptable results even though encumbered by slightly higher complication rates. Our results show that bladder mucosal graft for primary severe proximal hypospadias in selected patients is a possible alternative to other commonly used techniques, with the aim of restoring recovery of the normal continuity of the distal urinary tract see figure below.

Commentary to ‘Proximal hypospadias repair with bladder mucosal graft: Our 10 years experience’

Commentary to ‘Proximal hypospadias repair with bladder mucosal graft: Our 10 years experience’

Architecture of the Corpus Spongiosum: An Anatomical Study

Urethral reconstruction is performed for urethral stricture or hypospadias correction. Research on urethral tissue engineering is increasing. Because the corpus spongiosum is important to support the urethra, urethral tissue engineering should ideally be combined with reconstruction of a corpus spongiosum. We describe a method to visualize and measure the architecture of the corpus spongiosum, which is needed for scaffold design. The penis was dissected from 2 unembalmed male cadavers. One penis was flaccid and the other was erect, as induced by saline infusion. Both were frozen in ice. At 6 sites sections were obtained in the transverse and frontal directions. After digitalizing the stained sections the images were edited, area measurements were taken and a 3-dimensional reconstruction was made. In transverse sections the mean area of the vascular lumen was 60% and 77% in the flaccid and the erect corpus spongiosum, and in frontal sections it was 53% and 74%, respectively. This indicated a 129% transverse increase and a 140% longitudinal increase in erection. Section sites did not essentially differ except in the glans penis. Frontal sections showed larger vascular cavities and more incomplete septae than transverse sections. This study provides what is to our knowledge novel information on corpus spongiosum architecture, which is relevant for scaffold design in tissue engineering. The study protocol can be used in future research with a larger number of specimens and more extensive analyses.

Ventral bladder mucosa onlay graft urethroplasty for the treatment of panurethral stricture

Objective To investigate the efficacy of ventral bladder mucosa onlay graft urethroplasty for the management of panurethral stricture. Methods From August of 2005 to July of 2013, 11 cases of panurethral stricture were treated by ventral bladder mucosa onlay graft urethroplasty. The median age of the patients was 53 years ( 22-72 year ), The median stricture length was 15 cm (12-18 cm ). The patient was placed in the lithotomy position, Penile urethra was exposed by circumcoronal incision and degloving of skin, Bulbar urethra was exposed by inverted Y-shaped perineal incision. The strictured urethral segment was then opened ventrally in the midline up to at least 1 cm proximally into the healthy urethra. An appropriate size bladder mucosa graft was harvested, and was quilted to the splited urethra edge, the graft width was 1.5-2.0 cm. Two F10 fenestrated silicone catheters were left as urethral stents, a suprapupic cystostomy tube was left. The urethral stent was removed 4 weeks postoperatively. Follow-up was performed every 3 months for the first year, and annually thereafter. Success was defined as normal voiding with a maximum flow rates≥15 ml/s, and the patients required no further instrumentation, including dilation or urethrotomy. Results The mean follow-up was 18 months ( range, 9-36 months ), the overall success rate was 10/11. One patient developed urethral meatus stenosis 3 months postoperatively, and was managed by meatal dilatation. Conclusion Ventral bladder mucosa onlay graft urethroplasty can be used for the management of panurethral stricture, Bladder mucosa is an alternative substitution for complex urethral reconstruction. Key words: Bladder mucosa; Urethral strictures; Urethroplasty

Technique of Tubularized Bladder Mucosa Method for Treating Recurrent Vesicoureteral Reflux.

Technique of Tubularized Bladder Mucosa Method for Treating Recurrent Vesicoureteral Reflux.

Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma After a Childhood Hypospadias Repair With Bladder Mucosa Graft

Bladder mucosa grafts were historically used for hypospadias surgical repairs, when preputial or penile skin was unavailable and in cases of prior failed hypospadias repairs. We present a case of advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed 22 years after a childhood hypospadias repair with a free bladder mucosa graft.

Free tubularised vesical mucosa graft for congenital stenosis of the urethra in children

Reconstruction of urethral strictures in children remains a challenge to the pediatric surgeon as these are often related to different rare congenital anomalies with various clinical presentations that endanger renal function and should be repaired in young children. Multiple techniques have been described for their repair. We aimed to determine whether the use of a free tubularised bladder mucosal graft associated to a prior tubeless vesicostomy was feasible and sure, as this technique of reconstruction using tubularised grafts has not been described yet in young children. Two newborn male patients were referred to our department. Both presented a congenital stenosis of the urethra as a part of a complex urethral malformation. Surgery involved prior tubeless vesicostomy, free bladder mucosal graft for urethral reconstruction, and vesicostomy closure for both children. Postoperative evolution was satisfying in both children and cystourethroscopy showed permeable urethra. Satisfying cosmetic and functional results have been obtained in the two cases. The prior vesicostomy prevents kidney damage in the context of complex genital and urinary malformations. Bladder mucosa's immunohistological properties are the most similar to those of the urethral tissue, and are appropriate for this type of correction, making our technique feasible and sure. 5.

Long-term angiogenic activity of free grafts and pedicle flap in a rabbit urethroplasty model

We studied the late angiogenic activity of free grafts and a pedicle flap in a rabbit urethroplasty model to determine whether angiogenic activity plays a role in late outcomes of urethral reconstruction in rabbits. Twenty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into five groups according to the method used to bridge a urethral defect as an onlay patch: Control, simple closure of urethral defect (Group O1); free penile skin graft (FPSG, Group A1); buccal mucosal graft (BuMG, Group B1); bladder mucosal graft (BlMG, Group C1); and pedicle penile skin flap (PPSF, Group D1). Angiogenic activity of the patch on postoperative day 84 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The angiogenic activity in Groups O1, A1, B1, C1, and D1 was 23.33 ± 4.92 (means ± SD), 42.89 ± 6.52, 55.78 ± 3.46, 53.61 ± 6.17, and 24.11 ± 9.07 vessels per optical field, respectively. There were statistically significant differences (p < .001) between Group O1 and A1 B1, C1, Group A1 and B1, C1, D1, Groups B1 and D1 and Groups C1 and D1, but not between Groups O1 and D1 (p = 1.000) and Groups B1 and C1 (p = .872). The long-term angiogenic activity of all the groups was significantly lower (p < .001) than in the corresponding early groups. Although the angiogenic activity of all the groups decreased in the late assessment, the buccal mucosal graft continued to exhibit elevated angiogenesis above bladder or skin (free or pedicle) graft. Therefore, buccal mucosal patch graft might be preferable because of its easier harvesting.

MP-15.09 Outcome of Using Two-Stage Buccal Mucosal Graft for Replacement of Long Segment of Penile Urethral Stricture

Although the treatment of urethral stricture disease dates to the foundations of our specialty, significant progress made during the last years allows many of the most complex strictures to be reliably reconstructed. Four types of grafts have been successfully used for urethral reconstruction as the full-thickness/split-thickness skin graft, bladder mucosal graft, rectal mucosal graft and buccal mucosal graft.

Bladder and buccal mucosa graft in urethral stricture reconstruction

Purpose. Our aim was to determine the success of urethroplasty using a free graft of buccal or bladder mucosa for the treatment of complex anterior urethral stricture in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS. From October 2000 to February 2005, 11 patients with complex anterior urethral stricture underwent substitution urethroplasty, using mucosal grafts, 6 buccal and 5 bladder. RESULTS. The mean follow-up time was 50 months for 8 out of 11 patients (range 24 to 72). The procedure was successful for 6 patients (75%). Urethral stricture recurred in 2 patients (25%) and was treated by urethrotomy or meatoplasty with positive outcomes. CONCLUSION. Our limited experience with the reconstruction of a complex stricture of the anterior urethra confirmed that buccal and bladder mucosa grafts are excellent materials for substitution urethroplasty but that case selection is important.

Use of Free Peritoneal and Bladder Mucosal Grafts as Ureteral Mucosa Substitutes for Management of Avulsion of the Ureteral Mucosa in a Dog Model

Avulsion of the ureteral mucosa is one of the most serious complications of ureteroscopy and considered challenging for urologic surgeons. In this study, we developed two novel methods to reconstruct the impaired ureter. After ureteral mucosal avulsion in a canine model, ureteral reconstruction was performed in one of three ways: free tabularized peritoneal grafts (group A, n = 6); bladder mucosal grafts (group B, n = 6); or simple stenting technique (control group [n = 3]). At postoperative week 10, evaluation with intravenous urography (IVU) was followed by harvesting of reconstructed ureter segments for pathologic analysis. IVU showed nonvisualization of the collecting system of the affected side and histologic evaluation showed imperforation or stenosis in all animals in the control group. IVU showed good visualization of the reconstructed ureter without stenosis in group A and in most animals in group B. There was a mild dilation but no obvious stenosis in one animal in group B. Microscopically, all the reconstructed ureteral lumens were uniformly lined with transitional epithelium. Extensive neovascularity was evident in the subepithelial layer with a streaming of fibroblasts toward the neomucosa. Replacing the avulsed mucosa in the injured ureter with tubularized peritoneal free grafts or bladder mucosal grafts may be an optimal method to manage avulsion of the ureteral mucosa.

Surgical management of hypospadias cripples

Purpose We retrospectively evaluated our results in patients who were referred to us as hypospadias cripples. Material and methods Over the last 17 years (1988-2005) more than 110 patients were referred to us after failure of multiple hypospadias repair. Out of those we considered 28 children and adolescents with the ages from 8 months to 15 years to be hypospadias cripples. All patients had from 2 to 5 surgical attempts prior to the referral. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group of 5(25%) patients underwent multiple staged repairs and a second group of 23(75%) had a single stage repair. In the first group all patients had a chordee and meatus was located on the proximal part of the penis. In the second group the meatus was located on the midshaft in 4 and in the proximal part in 19 patients. In the second group 14(60.8%) children had penile chordee. Chordee was repaired by excision of the scar tissue and dorsal plication of the tunica albuginea. Results Major complications included breakdown of the repair, multiple fistulas and urethral stricture, while minor complications included small fistula, meatal stenosis or unsatisfactory cosmetic outcome. The results are presented in the table. Groups Type of surgery N° Major complications Minor complications Revision First Staged repair 5 1 1 1 Second Bladder mucosa graft 2 - - - *OPIF (dorsal skin) 10 2 3 2 **TPIF (Dorsal skin) 3 1 1 - *OPIF (lateral skin) 4 1 2 1 Thiersh-Duplay 4 - 1 - All procedures 28 5(17.8%) 8(28.5%) 4(14.2%) *OPIF: Onlay Pedicled Island Flap **TPIF: Tubularized Pedicled Island Flap Conclusions Our data show that there is a place for the use of local penile skin flap with a good vascular supply in the treatment of hypospadias cripples. We prefer Thiersh- Duplay repair in patients with a wide ventral plate, which appears healthy. However the percentage of the complications is relatively high and some patients need repeat revisions in order to achieve good functional results.

Substitution Urethroplasty of Complex and Long-Segment Urethral Strictures: A Rationale for Procedure Selection

ObjectivesWe evaluated the applications and outcomes of substitution urethroplasty, using a variety of techniques, in 65 patients with complex, long-segment urethral strictures. MethodsFrom January 1995 to December 2005, 65 patients with complex urethral strictures >8cm in length underwent substitution urethroplasty. Of the 65 patients, 43 underwent one-stage urethral reconstruction using mucosal grafts (28 colonic mucosal graft, 12 buccal mucosal graft, and 3 bladder mucosal graft), 17 patients underwent one-stage urethroplasty using pedicle flaps, and 5 patients underwent staged Johanson’s urethroplasty. ResultsThe mean follow-up time was 4.8 yr (range; 0.8–10 yr), with an overall success rate of 76.92% (50 of 65 cases). Complications developed in 15 patients (23.08%) and included recurrent stricture in 7 (10.77%), urethrocutaneous fistula in 3 (4.62%), coloabdominal fistula in 1 (1.54%), penile chordee in 2 (3.08%), and urethral pseudodiverticulum in 2 (3.08%). Recurrent strictures and urethral pseudodiverticulum were treated successfully with a subsequent procedure, including repeat urethroplasty in six cases and urethrotomy or dilation in three. Coloabdominal fistula was corrected only by dressing change; five patients await further reconstruction. ConclusionsPenile skin, colonic mucosal, and buccal mucosal grafts are excellent materials for substitution urethroplasty. Colonic mucosal graft urethroplasty is a feasible procedure for complicated urethral strictures involving the entire or multiple portions of the urethra and the technique may also be considered for urethral reconstruction in patients in whom other conventional procedures failed.

Comparison of Angiogenic Activity after Urethral Reconstruction Using Free Grafts and Pedicle Flap: An Experimental Study

An experimental study was undertaken in order to estimate the angiogenic activity in different free grafts and pedicle flap in urethral reconstruction in an animal model. Twenty-eight white New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (O, A, B, C and D). A ventral urethral defect was created in all groups. In the group O, (n = 4), a simple closure of the defect was performed. Free penile skin graft (group A, n = 6), buccal mucosal graft (group B, n = 6), bladder mucosal graft (group C, n = 6), and pedicle penile skin graft (group D, n = 6) were used to bridge the urethral defect as an onlay patch. The animals were euthanized on the 21st postoperative day. The angiogenic activity was assessed with immunohistochemistry, using the anti-CD31 MoAb and the alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase procedure. The native vascularity of penile skin as well as buccal and bladder mucosa was assessed in rabbits from group O (n = 3). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA. The angiogenesis seen with a magnification of x 200 in groups O, A, B, C, and D was 34.1 +/- 4.1 (mean +/- SD), 61.7 +/- 6.4, 94.3 +/- 6.4, 91.5 +/- 7.2, and 30.8 +/- 5.2 vessels per optical field, respectively. There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) between group O and groups A, B, C and between group A and groups B, C, D, but not (p > 0.5) between groups B and C and groups O and D. The native vascularity of penile skin, buccal mucosa and bladder mucosa was 23.3 +/- 3.0, 24.6 +/- 3.7 and 17.0 +/- 2.6 vessels per optical field, respectively. Buccal and bladder mucosal grafts exhibit a higher angiogenic activity than free and pedicle penile skin flap when transplanted in urethral defects. As the buccal mucosal graft showed the higher angiogenic activity and its harvesting is easier than bladder mucosa, we propose that in urethral reconstruction surgery the use of this graft might offer more reliable results.