Urethral Obliteration Research Articles

Use of anastomotic urethroplasty with partial pubectomy for posterior urethral obliteration injuries: 10 years experience

Management of pelvic trauma-induced posterior urethral disruption due can be quite controversial and challenging. Posterior urethral obliteration cases at the membranous urethra (n = 154) were analyzed from January 1997 to December 2006. The mean length of the urethral obliteration was 4.82 +/- 1.1 cm (range 3.5-6 cm). All patients underwent excision and primary bulboprostatic anastomosis with a perineal approach partial pubectomy. The percentage of overall successful surgeries (defined by Qmax values > 15 ml/s) was 85.1%, and the mean Qmax value was 22.94 +/- 5.7 cm/s without post-operative incontinence. Short anastomotic strictures developed 1-3 months post-operatively in 23 cases with persistent voiding difficulties. Partial pubectomy is a feasible therapeutic option in patients with long urethral obliteration and may provide effective surgical results for post-traumatic posterior urethral strictures.

Post-traumatic posterior urethral stricture in children: How to achieve a successful repair

Objective Complex post-traumatic posterior urethral strictures in children constitute a major challenge to the pediatric urologist. Surgical repair depends primarily on the length of the urethral obliteration. Resection with end-to-end anastomosis is the usual procedure in the face of a short segment stricture. Transpubic urethroplasty and substitution urethroplasty are currently used to treat extensive and complex urethral strictures. We present our experience of the management of children presenting with post-traumatic posterior urethral stricture. Patients and methods Fifty boys with a mean age of 9 years (6–13) with obliterative urethral stricture were operated on during May 1999 to August 2006. Short posterior urethral stricture was treated by excision and end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty in 40 boys. Long posterior urethral stricture was managed by combined inferior pubectomy in three, transpubic urethroplasty in four and tubed penile fasciocutaneous flap in three. Results With a mean follow-up of 4.5 years (6 months–7 years), all children who underwent perineal anastomotic urethroplasty were successfully repaired. Transpubic urethroplasty was associated with a re-stricture in one child 6 years following the repair. In the group repaired by tubed fasciocutaneous flap, we encountered a distal anastomotic stricture accompanied by a huge proximal diverticulum which needed revision in one child, and another diverticulum with multiple stones in another who was treated successfully. Conclusion Anastomotic urethroplasty in children is feasible with good results. Proper evaluation is needed to choose the best surgical technique for each patient. Tubed fasciocutaneous flap carries the highest complication rate.

Traumatic Obliterative Urethral Strictures in Pediatric Patients: Failure of the Cut to Light Technique at Long-Term Followup

The cut to light procedure or antegrade and retrograde urethroscopy with endoscopic incision of obliterative urethral strictures is an accepted method of treating posterior urethral distraction injuries. We report long-term followup on 22 pediatric patients treated with this technique. The records of all pediatric patients with a posterior urethral distraction injury treated from 1986 through 2006 were reviewed. The cut to light procedure was performed for obliterative strictures less than 1 cm via a cold knife or laser in 11 patients each. A urethral catheter was left in situ for 3 weeks. Patients were then followed a minimum of 2 years. A total of 22 patients at a median age of 11 years (range 3 to 16) were treated. Followup revealed stricture recurrence in all patients. Median time to recurrence was 3 months after catheter removal (range 5 days to 1 year). Although intermittent catheterization to maintain patency was attempted in all patients, the development of impassable urethral strictures in 16 (73%) and complaints of chronic pain with catheterization in 4 (18%) led to end-to-end urethroplasty. Successful reconstruction with open surgery was achieved in 19 of 20 patients (95%). Two patients (9%) maintained urethral patency with intermittent catheterization. In children with obliterative posterior urethral distraction injuries a cut to light procedure had a long-term success rate of 0%. All patients required daily intermittent catheterization (9%) or formal urethral reconstruction (91%) to maintain patency. We would strongly recommend against treating pediatric obliterative urethral strictures with a cut to light procedure.

PELVIC FRACTURE URETHRAL INJURIES IN GIRLS

Injuries to the female urethra associated with pelvic fracture are uncommon. They may vary from urethral contusion to partial or circumferential rupture. When disruption has occurred at the level of the proximal urethra, it is usually complete and often associated with vaginal laceration. We retrospectively reviewed the records of a series of girls with pelvic fracture urethral stricture and present surgical treatment to restore urethral continuity and the outcome. Between 1984 and 1997, 8 girls 4 to 16 years old (median age 9.6) with urethral injuries associated with pelvic fracture were treated at our institutions. Immediate therapy involved suprapubic cystostomy in 4 cases, urethral catheter alignment and simultaneous suprapubic cystostomy in 3, and primary suturing of the urethra, bladder neck and vagina in 1. Delayed 1-stage anastomotic repair was performed in 1 patient with urethral avulsion at the level of the bladder neck and in 5 with a proximal urethral distraction defect, while a neourethra was constructed from the anterior vaginal wall in a 2-stage procedure in 1 with mid urethral avulsion. Concomitant vaginal rupture in 7 cases was treated at delayed urethral reconstruction in 5 and by primary repair in 2. The surgical approach was retropubic in 3 cases, vaginal-retropubic in 1 and vaginal-transpubic in 4. Associated injuries included rectal injury in 3 girls and bladder neck laceration in 4. Overall postoperative followup was 6 months to 6.3 years (median 3 years). Urethral obliteration developed in all patients treated with suprapubic cystostomy and simultaneous urethral realignment. The stricture-free rate for 1-stage anastomotic repair and substitution urethroplasty was 100%. In 1 girl complete urinary incontinence developed, while another has mild stress incontinence. Retrospectively the 2 incontinent girls had had an associated bladder neck injury at the initial trauma. Two recurrent vaginal strictures were treated successfully with additional transpositions of lateral labial flaps. This study emphasizes that combined vaginal-partial transpubic access is a reliable approach for resolving complex obliterative urethral strictures and associated urethrovaginal fistulas or severe bladder neck damage after traumatic pelvic fracture injury in female pediatric patients. Although our experience with the initial management of these injuries is limited, we advocate early cystostomy drainage and deferred surgical reconstruction when life threatening clinical conditions are present or extensive traumatized tissue in the affected area precludes immediate ideal surgical repair.

Endoscopic Urethroplasty for Complete Urethral Obliteration

Endoscopic Urethroplasty for Complete Urethral Obliteration

Immediate Management of Posterior Urethral Disruptions Due to Pelvic Fracture: Therapeutic Alternatives

We retrospectively reviewed the results of 3 types of initial management of pelvic fracture urethral disruption in children. From 1980 to 1994, 35 boys 2 to 15 years old (mean age 8.1) with prostatomembranous urethral disruption were treated, including 17 who also had associated injuries. Immediate treatment included suprapubic cystostomy and delayed urethroplasty in 19 patients (group 1), urethral catheter alignment without traction and concomitant suprapubic cystostomy in 10 (group 2), and primary retropubic anastomotic urethroplasty in 6 (group 3). In all patients in groups 1 and 2 severe urethral obliteration developed. Four group 3 patients (66%) had a stricture at the site of anastomotic repair. After delayed urethroplasty 16 group 1 (84%) and all 10 group 2 patients were continent. However, only 3 group 3 patients (50%) achieved continence. Retrospectively associated bladder neck injury occurred in 5 of the 6 incontinent boys. Erections were observed before and after treatment in all but 3 children. Unstable pelvic ring fractures (type IV) comprised 28% of all pelvic fractures with a high rate of associated injuries. As described, urethral alignment was not beneficial for avoiding urethral obliteration. Therefore we recommend suprapublic cystostomy as the only form of initial treatment in these cases. Urinary incontinence seems more likely related to associated bladder neck rupture and the severity of pelvic fracture rather than to initial treatment or delayed urethral repair. Consequently, when associated bladder neck injury is present, we advocate immediate surgical repair.

Endoscopic Repair in 154 Cases of Urethral Occlusion: The Promise of Guided Optical Urethral Reconstruction

We determined whether optical urethral reconstruction, with the use of a Béniqué bougie in the proximal urethra and transrectal digital guidance, is effective for the treatment of long and severe urethral occlusions. However, with some skill the procedure can be done without the bougie for the treatment of short occlusions. During a 9-year period 154 men with complete urethral occlusion underwent core through optical urethrotomy via transrectal digital guidance, using the Béniqué bougie in 89 (58%). A total of 400 urethrotomies was performed. All lesions were in the posterior urethra except 8 in the pendulous portion. There were 64 war related injuries (41.6%). Combined voiding and retrograde urethrography was not useful to measure the length of the occlusion due to failure of proximal urethral filling. Guided optical urethral reconstruction consisted of optical urethrotomy performed with a Béniqué bougie introduced proximally through the suprapubic catheter site and into the proximal urethra with the index finger of the operator in the rectum. The same procedure was performed blindly without use of the bougie in 65 patients (42%), and in 43 with lesions shorter than 1 cm. and 4 with multiple annular lesions. We also used the blind technique successfully to reestablish 18 occlusions longer than 1 cm. For optimal epithelialization of the urethral tract we suggest leaving a silicone catheter indwelling for 3 months. No prophylactic antibiotics were given. Of the patients 54 (35%) were cured after 1 procedure, whereas the remaining 100 (65%) required 1 to 9 additional urethrotomies (mean 3). Patients with an uninstrumented urethra who were treated initially with suprapubic catheterization required 1 to 6 urethrotomies (mean 2), compared to 1 to 10 (mean 3) for those who had undergone a prior procedure. Hematuria occurred in 9% of the patients, symptomatic urinary tract infection in 7% and slight extravasation in 3.2%. One patient had stress incontinence. Our procedure is effective, simple, safe, repeatable, inexpensive and minimally invasive, and it does not require special or sophisticated guiding instruments, which are necessary for previously described techniques. It can be performed with or without use of a Béniqué bougie depending on the extent of the lesion and skill of the surgeon. The outcome can be judged from the symptomatic response of the patient, and flow studies and urethrography are not mandatory during routine followup.

Endoscopic Treatment of Posttraumatic Urethral Obliteration: Experience in 396 Patients

Of 396 patients with posttraumatic posterior urethral strictures treated endoscopically during 10 years 352 had no vesical displacement (group 1) and 44 had marked displacement (group 2). Group 1 patients were treated by suprapubic diversion and delayed optical urethrotomy. Exploration and railroad alignment to the urethra were done in group 2 and followup internal urethrotomy was performed in 33 patients. Eleven patients in group 2 and 68 in group 1 were considered failures due to complete short segment urethral obliteration. These 79 patients who failed initial visual urethrotomy underwent endoscopic resection of the stricture, that is core through optical urethrotomy. After 6 to 55 months (average 2 years) 46 patients (58.2%) were voiding satisfactorily (4 had stress incontinence). The 33 patients (41.8%) with failed minor or major endoscopic treatment due to persistent obstruction were treated with open urethroplasty. We conclude that posttraumatic posterior urethral obliteration can be treated by simple or major endoscopic techniques and that core through optical urethrotomy is a reasonable alternative to urethroplasty in patients with an impassable short stricture.

Endoscopic Repair of the Completely Disrupted Urethra

Posterior urethral disruption or obliteration is most often the result of pelvic trauma. We describe a modified endoscopic technique used to reestablish urethral continuity in five patients with a minimum 2-year follow-up. This technique involved cold-knife incision of the scar without dilation followed by short-term catheterization. The advantages of endoscopic reestablishment of urethral continuity include short hospitalization, limited blood loss, no external incision, briefer operating time compared with open urethroplasty, and a stable patent urethra.

Posterior Urethral Obliteration Treated by Endoscopic Reconstitution, Internal Urethrotomy and Temporary Self-Dilation

Five patients with complete posterior urethral obliteration (less than 3cm.) underwent endoscopic reconstitution of the urethra followed by planned direct vision internal urethrotomy and temporary self-dilation. Of these patients 3 complied with the treatment regimen and are currently free of voiding complaints (average followup 31 months), while 2 failed to perform self-dilation and required repeat internal urethrotomy. Of the latter 2 patients 1 then performed self-dilation and has a stable urethra (followup 2 years). The youngest patient refused to perform self-dilation and underwent successful perineal urethroplasty. Major complications did not occur. The treatment regimen as described is a suitable alternative to surgical urethroplasty in select patients with short urethral defects (less than 3cm.) who are willing to perform temporary urethral self-dilation.

Transrectal Ultrasound-Assisted Optic Internal Urethrotomy for Management of Complete Obliteration of Posterior Urethra and Bladder Neck*

The management of posterior urethral obliteration secondary to urethral disruption associated with pelvic fracture has been one of the greatest challenges to a urologist. Although different surgical procedures are available, a recent prevailing notion has been that if feasible, any completely obliterated urethra may be tried out with an optic urethrotomy to regain the alignment. A decisive incision by the cold knife over the site of urethral obliteration into the urinary bladder could be guided precisely by linear transrectal ultrasound used concomitantly with an optic urethrotomy. In a period of 2 years, transrectal ultrasound-guided optic urethrotomy was conducted successfully in five patients with traumatic complete posterior urethral obliteration and two with complete bladder neck obstruction. Although as many as six subsequent optic urethrotomies have been required for extremely long segment obliterations, there has been no impotence or, urinary incontinence over a period of 12 to 30 months. Optic ur...

Endoscopic Treatment of Posterior Urethral Obliteration: Long-Term Followup and Comparison with Transpubic Urethroplasty

We compare our results with the endoscopic management of posterior urethral obliteration in 8 patients to our previous experience with transpubic urethroplasty in 6 patients. Although most patients who underwent an endoscopic procedure required 2 or 3 followup internal urethrotomies within the first 2 to 10 months after treatment, 6 have remained free of stricture for more than 2 years after this initial period of aggressive endoscopic management. This finding suggests that total obliteration of the posterior urethra can be managed effectively by endoscopic techniques. Comparison of endoscopic treatment with transpubic urethroplasty revealed a decrease in operative time, blood loss and hospital stay with endoscopic management. We recommend that transpubic urethroplasty be reserved for patients in whom urethral continuity cannot be re-established with relatively safe and simple endourological techniques.

Perforation-Reconst1Tution of Proximal Urethral Obliteration

Post-traumatic or failed postoperative proximal urethral obliteration commonly is managed by technically demanding transpubic procedures. Five cases are reported, which were treated successfully by forceful retrograde perforation with a urethral sound guided by a finger inserted into the prostatic urethra. Temporary urethral catheterization followed by a program of daily self-dilation by catheter during maturation of the tract, with visual urethrotomy as required, facilitated healing.