Normal Urinary Stream Research Articles

Case Report: Urethral Diverticulum after Distal Hypospadias Repair: An Uncommon Complication.

Abstract* Introduction A urethral diverticulum can be defined as a pocket that forms from the lining of the urethra and protrudes into the surrounding tissue, a condition which causes voiding dysfunction and may result as a rare complication of hypospadias repair surgery. Case report We report the case of a 2-year-old child who presented to us in 2019 complaining of a thin forceful stream, ballooning of the ventral aspect of the penis while voiding, and post-void dribbling. He has a history of undergoing a tabularised incised plate urethroplasty for distal penile hypospadias at 18-months-old. Ultrasound showed increased post-void residual volume and cystourethroscopy confirmed a urethral diverticulum extending from the subcorona to the base of the penis. The patient underwent partial excision of diverticulum, urethroplasty, and meatoplasty. He was followed-up 3 months later with complete resolution of his symptoms and a normal urinary stream with no urethral ballooning or dribbling. Conclusion Urethral diverticulum may present as a complication post hypospadias repair. Although it is rare, we believe that it is important for the patient’s parents to understand the possibility and know of the signs and symptoms in addition to attending regular outpatient clinic appointments in order to facilitate early management if needed. Furthermore, it is highly important for physicians to assess newborns for hypospadias before carrying out circumcision as it is a contraindication for the procedure.

Tips and Tricks in the Management of Megameatus Intact Prepuce Variant of Hypospadias: A Review Article

Introduction: Hypospadias is congenital anomalies with various spectrum and variants, presenting with abnormal urethral meatus short of the native tip of the glans. megameatus intact prepuce is a rare variant of glanular hypospadias seen in about 3-6 % of hypospadias cases. The main features of megameatus intact prepuce are large urethral external meatus with deep with deeply grooved glans penis and the preputial skin is usually present and intact with no chordae. Seven named procedures for megameatus intact prepuce were discussed. Methodology: We use the following search engines for out study where we found the following articles and reviews as follows in Scopus search, we found 26 articles, in AJOL we there were 7 articles and in PubMed Central Search we found 32 articles, then in Google scholar the search revealed 388 articles, 45 articles were reviewed and summarised and 7 established procedures were discussed. Results: Seven named established procedures for megameatus intact prepuce variant of hypospadias were summarized and discussed and include Pyramid Procedure, Glanular Approximation Procedure, Tubularised Urethral Plate Urethroplasty, Tubularised Incised Urethral Plate Procedure, Mathieu Technique, Cutaneous advancement procedure and The Inframeatal Vascularised Flap Procedure. DISCUSSION: The Surgical procedures for repair of megameatus intact prepuce is technically challenging not only for the surgeon but the anesthethiogist alike because the patients are paediatric with small organs, therefore appropriate instruments and proper timing of the surgical intervention is paramount. Duckett and Keating et al in their study identified the first challenge is to identify those patients who truly need surgical repair. In a study by Marc Cendron et al they found out that the features identified as important in the decision-making process were (1) meatal opening close to or below the coronal margin; (2) A deep glans cleft; (3) a wide, splayed-out glans; and (4) an abnormal urinary stream if witnessed. in a study by Duckett JW, Keating MA, Hatch DA et at and Austin Hill G, Wacksman J they reported a satisfactory outcome with the various described surgical procedures. Conclusion: The tip and tricks of the surgical procedures of megameatus intact prepuce rare variant of hypospadias is a review article to aimed to improve on the surgical outcome including normal conical appearance of the glans, a urethral meatus of normal caliber, and a single, normal urinary stream with no symptoms and to minimise the complications such as urethrocutenous fistula as extracted from the expert’s vast experience and modifications of the existing techniques, in our study we summarised the experts seven established techniques and the modifications to achieve the desired objectives.

Posterior Urethral Valves; Outcome Analysis after Endoscopic Valve Ablation

Introduction: Posterior urethral valves, a major male infra-vesical obstructive uropathy leading to chronic renal failure are most common paediatric urological emergencies with an incidence of 1:5000 -1:8000. Early diagnosis, management and follow up of these patients is challenging in low socio-economic countries like Nepal. This study evaluates the cases with posterior urethral valves and their outcomes after endoscopic valve ablation over a period of five years.
 Methods: In this five year retrospective study from January 2016 to December 2020, all the cases with posterior urethral valves undergoing endoscopic valve ablation were reviewed and data were analysed for age, presentation, diagnosis and outcome at follow-up after management.
 Results: A total of sixty patients with posterior urethral valves were managed with definitive endoscopic ablation in the five year period. Median age at ablation was 11 months (10 days to 4 years). Commonest presentation was features of bladder outlet obstruction evident by poor stream, straining and dribbling of urine. Only 26.7% cases were managed in neonatal period due to low suspicion of valve in prenatal fetal scan. 83.3% of patients had complete relief from obstruction with normal urinary stream at follow up after ablation of valves with 15% of cases needing re-ablation of the residual valve. Two cases had to undergo anti-reflux surgery two years after valve ablation. Mortality was seen in one case due to cross sepsis. Majority of patients were in regular follow-up which showed its direct relationship to the outcome of the disease after valve ablation.
 Conclusion: Early detection, proper relief of obstruction and regular follow-up strategies can avoid life threatening complications of posterior urethral valves. Only treating posterior urethral valves is not the aim of obtaining successful relief of obstruction. Parent’s education, developing prenatal ultrasound skills to detect or suspect prenatal PUVs and early referral to tertiary centers where these patients can be managed promptly are equally important.

Delayed presentation of urethrocutaneous fistulae after hypospadias repair

BackgroundDelayed urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF) presentation after hypospadias repair is rarely reported. The aim of this study is to report our experience with delayed UCF presenting more than 5 years after hypospadias repair. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent UCF repair (CPT codes 54,340 and 54,344) at our institution between 1997 and 2017. Delayed UCF presentation was defined as a single normal urinary stream after initial hypospadias repair and subsequent presentation of a UCF/s urinary stream more than 5 years after initial hypospadias or UCF repair. Demographic and clinical data were reviewed after approval from our institutional review committee. ResultsWe identified 12 patients with delayed UCF. The mean age at hypospadias repair was 12.3 months (Range 6–32). The mean time to delayed UCF presentation was 11.5 years (Range 7.1–15.8). Four patients with delayed UCF (33.3%) required additional surgery for UCF recurrence with a mean time to recurrence of 2.2 years (Range < 1–5.6). ConclusionsDelayed UCF presentation can occur more than 15 years after initial repair.Pubertal penile skin changes and increased genital awareness in older children may be contributing factors as all but one presented at age 10 years or older. Level of evidenceIII

Age-related changes in urinary flow following dorsal inlay graft urethroplasty for hypospadias in early childhood: Potential improvement over 11 years of age

One of the goals of hypospadias repair is to create a neourethra with normal urinary stream and normal growth. Several studies have reported that dorsal inlay graft urethroplasty (DIG) has wide indications for various clinical phenotypes of hypospadias, with good short-term outcomes and few complications. However, there have been no reports that evaluated both short-term and long-term functional outcomes using uroflowmetry in patients with DIG. The aim was to investigate whether uroflowmetry parameters change with time following DIG for hypospadias in early childhood. Uroflowmetry parameters after DIG for hypospadias in childhood were retrospectively evaluated and compared between two defined ages at follow-up: 4-6 years and 11-13 years. Maximum urinary flow (Qmax) under the 25th percentile on the Miskolc nomogram was defined as obstruction. To evaluate the shapes of uroflow quantitatively, the flow index (FI) was used. The FI cut-offs for the flow shapes were defined as tower >1.253, plateaus <0.659; bells were between these two values. Thirty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. The median operative age was 1.8 years (range 1.0-4.9 years). The median follow-up time was 10.3 years (range 7.2-12.3 years). The mean±SD Qmax at the two follow-up times increased with time, from 9.2±3.7 to 18.8±7.8. The mean±SD FI changed from 0.53±0.19 to 0.85±0.31. Both Qmax and the FI were significantly improved (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). There were significantly fewer patients with obstruction evaluated by the Miskolc nomogram at 11-13 years of age (n=11, 32.4%) than at 4-6 years (n=31, 91.2%) (p<0.001). Plateau shapes assessed by the FI were seen in 24 (70.6%) patients at 4-6 years and 10 (29.4%) patients at 11-13 years (Table). The number of patients with plateau shapes was significantly decreased (p=0.001). Only one report noted long-term outcomes and spontaneous uroflowmetry resolution after tubularized incised plate urethroplasty. The current report is the first to present the short-term and long-term uroflowmetry outcomes after DIG. In addition, the FI was used for the first time to evaluate uroflowmetry after hypospadias repair. It was found that the uroflowmetry parameters improved spontaneously over 11 years of age following DIG for hypospadias in early childhood. Uroflowmetry parameters improved spontaneously over 11 years of age following DIG for hypospadias in early childhood.

The Megameatus, Intact Prepuce Variant of Hypospadias: Use of the Inframeatal Vascularized Flap for Surgical Correction.

The megameatus intact prepuce (MIP) variant of hypospadias is a rare variant of hypospadias that is diagnosed either early at the time of circumcision or later as the foreskin is retracted. The true incidence of the anomaly is difficult to determine precisely as some patient never come to medical attention but is felt to under 5% of all cases of hypospadias. The purposes of this study are to review the embryology and clinical findings of MIP and then, in light of a personal experience, present a series of patients evaluated for MIP who were treated with a modification of the Mathieu technique. A PubMed search of all articles in the MIP variant of hypospadias was carried out followed by an exhaustive review of the literature. The charts of all patients evaluated and treated at Boston Children's Hospital by MC between 2007 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent the standard procedure and those who underwent a repair using a modification of the Mathieu procedure using an inframeatal flap. The embryologic explanation of the MIP variant is not clear but failure of the distal, glanular portion of the urethra to tubularize results in spectrum of abnormality characterized by a deep glanular groove and an abnormal opening of the urethra anywhere from the mid-glans to a subcoronal location. Surgical repair is complicated by a wide distal urethra which may be injured if not properly identified. Overall good outcomes were noted with one patient experiencing a urethra cutaneous fistula in the first group and one patient having a mild glans dehiscence in the second. The MIP variant of hypospadias is a rare variant of hypospadias that presents as a spectrum of urethral anomaly. Surgical repair may not always be necessary but if surgical repair is carried out, the Mathieu technique modification may offer better anatomic delineation of the urethra and will provide an extra layer of tissue to cover the reconstructed urethra. Low complication rates should be expected with adequate functional outcome such as a normal urinary stream. In addition, criteria for selecting patients for surgical repair are provided.

Clinic meatotomy under topical anesthesia

Almost 20 years after Cartwright etal. (1996) demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of clinic meatotomy (CM) under topical lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA) anesthesia, 50% of meatotomies are still performed under general anesthesia (GA) (Godley et al., 2015). The cost of a meatotomy under GA is approximately 10 times the cost of CM in the present practice. This study presented the outcomes for CM under topical anesthesia, in consecutive patients who presented with meatal stenosis secondary to circumcision. This was a retrospective descriptive study of data, which were collected prospectively for quality improvement purposes from July 2013 to September 2015, of 55 consecutive boys who underwent CM for meatal stenosis (occlusion of urethral meatus by a crust; deflected stream). Meatotomy was performed after applying EMLA and covering it with a Tegaderm® dressing, and then waiting 20-60min. The recorded outcomes were pain and success rate. Pain was defined at the beginning of data collection as any sound, grimace or movement during the procedure. Success rate was recorded during follow-up in the clinic or over the phone, when the family was asked if symptoms were the same, improved or completely resolved. Forty-three boys (78%) had no pain and 12 (22%) had pain as defined above (Figure), but no CM had to be stopped due to pain. At a median follow-up of 1.6 months (IQR 1.3-2.7 months) 41 (75%) patients had resolution of their symptoms and a normal urinary stream, nine (16%) had improved symptoms, and three (5%) had unchanged symptoms. More patients reported pain than those in the Cartwright study; this was perhaps because a full hour was not waited after EMLA application with most of the present patients. The present success rate was also lower than that reported by Cartwright, and for that there is no explanation. However, all CM could be completed and >90% of patients saw resolution or improvement of their symptoms. At a cost ten times lower than a meatotomy performed under GA, and with no evidence of inferiority evident in the literature, it is believed that CM should be the standard of care when meatal stenosis is treated by a meatotomy.

Posterior urethral valves: Morphological normalization of posterior urethra after fulguration is a significant factor in prognosis.

Aim:To assess the changes in urethral morphology 3 months post fulguration of posterior urethral valves (PUVs) on micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) and correlate these changes with the overall clinical status of the patient.Materials and Methods:A total of 217 children, managed for PUVs during a period of 6 years in a single surgical unit were prospectively studied. The ratio of the diameters of the prostatic and bulbar urethras (PU/BU) was calculated on the pre- and post-fulguration MCUG films. They were categorized into three groups based on the degree of normalization of posterior urethra (post-fulguration PU/BU ratio).Results:Group A: Of the 133 patients, 131 had normal urinary stream and 4 (3%) had nocturnal enuresis. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), initially seen in 83 units (31% units), regressed completely at a mean duration of 6 months in 41 units (49%). Of the 152 non-VUR, hydroureteronephrosis (HUN) units, 11 were poorly functioning kidneys. Persistent slow but unobstructed drainage was seen in 23 units (16%) over a period of 1.5–5 years (mean 2.5 years). Group B: All the 11 patients had a normal stream. Four (36.4%) had daytime frequency for a mean duration of 1 year and one (9%) had nocturnal enuresis for 1 year. Grade IV–V VUR was seen in five patients (three bilateral), which regressed completely by 3 months in five units (62.5%). In the non-VUR, HUN patients, slow (but unobstructed) drainage was persistent in two units (14%) at 3 years. Group C: Of the 16 patients, only 5 (31.3%) were asymptomatic. Six patients (nine units) had persistent VUR for 6 months to 3 years. Of the 20 units with HUN, 17 (85%) were persistent at 1–4 years (mean 2 years). Eight patients (50%) required a second fulguration while 3 (18.7%) required urethral dilatation for stricture following which all parameters improved.Conclusions:Adequacy of fulguration should be assessed by a properly performed MCUG. A postop PU/BU ratio >3 SD (1.92) should alert to an incomplete fulguration or stricture. Patients within normal range ratio have faster recovery of slow draining units, reflux and less voiding dysfunction. There is a strong correlation between incomplete fulguration and persistent slow draining units, uremia, voiding dysfunction and urinary tract infections.

SURGICAL REPAIR OF URETHRAL CIRCUMCISION INJURIES

Purpose The 2 types of urethral injury that can occur during circumcision are urethrocutaneous fistula and urethral distortion secondary to partial glans amputation. We report the surgical repair of these rare injuries. Materials and Methods In 8 patients urethrocutaneous fistulas located on the distal penile shaft or at the coronal margin were managed by splitting the glans and using a Mathieu style skin flap in 4 or vascularized penile skin flap in 4 to bridge the urethral defect. Three patients underwent repair of a hypospadiac deviated urethra secondary to partial glans amputation by 1 cm. of urethral mobilization and repositioning the meatus into a terminal position within the remaining glans tissue. Results The 8 patients with urethrocutaneous fistulas voided via a terminal meatus without fistula recurrence at a mean followup of 3.2 years (range 1 to 6). The 3 patients with partial glans amputation and urethral deviation repaired by short urethral advancement had functionally acceptable results, defined as a normal urinary stream, although 1 required meatal dilation postoperatively. Conclusions The 2 types of urethral injuries that can occur during circumcision are a subcoronal urethrocutaneous fistula and scarred abnormal urethra from partial glans amputation. The urethrocutaneous fistula can be successfully repaired by splitting the glans and forming a neourethra from a vascularized pedicle flap of penile skin. The abnormal urethra after partial glans amputation is more difficult to repair but repositioning the urethra in a more cosmetic location has restored function.