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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Recurrence after URF repair usually occurs from the urinary side of the fistula. This study evaluates the clinical significance of a radiological leak on pericatheter ure...

Penile urethral strictures have been managed by a staged surgical approach. In selected cases, spongiofibrosis can be excised, a neo-urethral plate created using buccal mucosa graft (BMG) and tubularized during the same procedure, performing a “two-in-one” stage approach. We aim to identify stricture factors which indicate suitability for this two-in-one stage approach. We assess surgical outcome and compare with staged reconstruction. We conducted an observational descriptive study. The data were prospectively collected from two-in-one stage and staged penile urethroplasties using BMG in a single center between 2007 and 2017. The minimum follow-up was 6 months. Outcomes were assessed clinically, radiologically, and by flow-rate analysis. Failure was defined as recurrent stricture or any subsequent surgical or endoscopic intervention. Descriptive analysis of stricture characteristics and statistical comparison was made between groups. Of 425 penile urethroplasties, 139 met the inclusion criteria: 59 two-in-one stage and 80 staged. The mean stricture length was 2.8 cm (single stage) and 4.5 cm (staged). Etiology was lichen sclerosus (LS) 52.5% (single stage) and 73.8% hypospadias related (staged). 40.7% of patients had previous failed urethroplasties in the single-stage group and 81.2% in the staged. The most common stricture locations were navicular fossa (39.0%) and distal penile urethra (59.3%) in the single-stage group and mid or proximal penile urethra (58.7%) in the staged group. Success rates were 89.8% (single stage) and 81.3% (staged). A trend toward a single-stage approach for select penile urethral strictures was noted. We conclude that a single-stage substitution penile urethroplasty using BMG as a “two-in-one” approach is associated with excellent functional outcomes. The most suitable strictures for this approach are distal, primary, and LS-related strictures.

Cowper's syringoceles are uncommon, usually described in children and most commonly limited to the ducts. We describe more complex variants in an adult population affecting with varying degrees of severity, the glands themselves, and the complications they may lead to. One hundred consecutive urethrograms of patients with unreconstructed strictures were reviewed. Twenty-six patients (mean age: 41.1 years) with Cowper's syringoceles who were managed between 2009 and 2016 were subsequently evaluated. Presentation, radiological appearance, treatment (when indicated), and outcomes were assessed. Of 100 urethrograms in patients with strictures, 33.0% demonstrated filling of Cowper's ducts or glands, occurring predominantly in patients with bulbar strictures. Only 1 of 26 patients with non-bulbar strictures had a visible duct/gland. Of 26 symptomatic patients, 15 presented with poor flow. In four patients, a grossly dilated Cowper's duct obstructed the urethra. In the remaining 11 patients, a bulbar stricture caused the symptoms and the syringocele was identified incidentally. Eight patients presented with perineal pain. In six of them, fluoroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed complex multicystic lesions within the bulbourethral glands. Four patients developed perineoscrotal abscesses. In the 11 patients with strictures, the syringocele was no longer visible after urethroplasty. In three of four patients with urethral obstruction secondary to a dilated Cowper's duct, this resolved after transperineal excision (n = 2) and endoscopic deroofing (n = 1). Five of six patients with complex syringoceles involving Cowper's glands were excised surgically with symptomatic relief in all. In conclusion, Cowper's syringocele in adults is more common than previously thought and may cause lower urinary tract symptoms or be associated with serious complications which usually require surgical treatment.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Urethro-cutaneous fistula (UCF) originating from the anterior urethra in adult men is an uncommon presentation. We describe our experience in managing this problem.METHOD...

The standard treatment of bulbar urethral strictures of appropriate length is excision and primary anastomosis (EPA), irrespective of the cause of the stricture. This involves transection of the corpus spongiosum (CS) and disruption of the blood flow within the CS as a consequence. The success rate of EPA in curing these strictures is very high, but there is a considerable body of evidence and of opinion to suggest that there is a significant risk of sexual dysfunction and, potentially, of other adverse consequences that occur because of transection of the CS.

Fistulation is a relatively uncommon complication resulting from the treatment of pelvic malignancy but one which is associated with significant patient morbidity. Fistulae complicating treatment with radiation, when compared to those arising from surgical management alone, are usually more difficult to treat by virtue of tissue ischaemia and fibrosis. They are also commonly associated with other complications resulting from the effect of radiation on adjacent organs such as the bladder, lower intestinal tract and pelvic bones as well as the frequent occurrence of intervening cavitation and chronic pelvic sepsis, all of which render these fistulae complex. Complex radiotherapy fistulae necessitate a change in the standard approach to fistula management. In a non-tertiary setting, they are often treated by urinary or bowel diversion (or both). Surgical correction of complex fistulae following radiotherapy is nonetheless possible in experienced hands but commonly requires extensive reconstructive procedures via an abdominoperineal approach with a protracted recovery and reduced potential for return to complete functional normality.

Augmentation urethroplasty using oral mucosal graft has become the standard surgical treatment of long bulbar strictures. In very tight strictures the urethral plate is narrowed to the extent that an almost circumferential substitution with oral graft is necessary, with suboptimal results. If the obliterative segment within a longer stricture is short it is possible, through a dorsal stricturotomy, to excise it in a non-transecting manner, leaving the ventral spongiosum intact and anastomose the mucosal edges to reconstitute the urethral plate to an adequate calibre. The stricturotomy is subsequently augmented with an oral mucosal graft. We describe this technique as the augmented non-transecting anastomotic bulbar urethroplasty. It also allows for use of a narrower and shorter graft. In our hands this procedure is associated with a 100% radiological success rate and a 95% patient satisfaction rate at a mean follow-up of 14.8 months (5.7–52.6 months). Keywords: Urethral stricture; Bulbar urethroplasty; Non-transecting; Buccal mucosal graft

Chronic pubic pain after the treatment of prostate cancer is often attributed to osteitis pubis. We have become aware of another complication, namely fistulation into the pubic symphysis, which is more serious and more common than previously thought.A total of 16 patients were treated for urosymphyseal fistulas after the treatment of prostate cancer between January 2011 and April 2014. Clinical presentation was characterized by chronic, debilitating pubic/pelvic/groin pain in all patients. Diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Conservative management was successful in only 1 patient. The remaining patients were treated surgically with excision of the fistulous track and involved symphyseal bone and omentoplasty, followed by reconstruction when feasible.All 16 patients had had radiotherapy as primary treatment (8) or after prostatectomy (8). There were 5 patients (31.3%) who underwent various combinations of brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy and cryotherapy. Bladder neck contractures developed in 13 patients (81.3%), whose treatment (endoscopic or open reconstruction) resulted in urinary leak leading to urosymphyseal fistulas. Reconstruction was possible in 7 of 15 patients (46.7%) with salvage radical prostatectomy and substitution/augmentation cystoplasty. The other 8 patients (53.3%) underwent cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion. All patients experienced resolution of symptoms, most significantly the almost immediate resolution of pain.A high index of suspicion must be maintained in irradiated patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of urosymphyseal fistulas, especially after having undergone treatment of bladder neck contractures or prostatic urethral stenoses. Although extensive, surgery for urosymphyseal fistulas, with a high risk of morbidity and mortality and a protracted recovery, leads to immediate and dramatic improvement in symptoms.

To investigate the concept of 'urethral atrophy', which is often cited as a cause of recurrent incontinence after initially successful implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS); and to investigate the specific cause of the malfunction of the AUS in these patients and address their management.Between January 2006 and May 2013, 50 consecutive patients (mean age 54.3 years) with recurrent incontinence had their AUS explored for malfunction and replaced with a new device with components of exactly the same size, unless there was a particular reason to use something different. Average time to replacement of the device was 10.1 years. The mean follow-up after replacement of the device was 24.7 months. All patients without an obvious cause for their recurrent incontinence had preoperative urodynamic evaluation, including measurement of the Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) and the retrograde cuff occlusion pressure (RCOP). After explantation of the AUS in patients without any apparent abnormality of the device at the time of replacement, the pressure generated by the explanted pressure-regulating balloon (PRB) was measured manometrically, when this was possible. In a select group of six consecutive patients of this type, the fibrous capsule surrounding the old cuff was incised then excised to expose and evaluate the underlying corpus spongiosum.In 31 of the 50 patients (62%) undergoing exploration, a specific cause for the malfunction of their AUS was defined. In the other 19 patients (38%) no cause was found, either preoperatively or at the time of exploration, other than a low VLPP and RCOP. A typical 'waisted' or 'hour-glass' appearance of the underlying corpus spongiosum was demonstrable, to some degree, on explanting the cuff in all cases. In the six patients in whom the restrictive sheath surrounding the cuff was excised, the urethral circumference immediately returned to normal after the compressive effect of the sheath was released. Manometry of the explanted PRBs, when this was possible, showed a loss of pressure in all instances. Replacement of the explanted AUS with a new device with the same size cuff and PRB in 14 of these 19 patients was successful in 12 (85.7%).These results, and other theoretical considerations, suggest that recurrent incontinence, years after initially successful implantation of an AUS, is because of material failure of the PRB, probably attributable to its age and consequent loss of its ability to generate the pressure it was designed to produce, and that urethral atrophy does not occur. Simply replacing the old device with a new one with the same characteristics, unless there is a particular reason to do otherwise, is usually successful and avoids the complications of alternatives such as as cuff downsizing, implanting a PRB with a higher pressure range, implantation of a second cuff or transcorporeal cuff placement, all of which have been advocated in these patients.

Most urethral strictures are either idiopathic or iatrogenic secondary to urethral instrumentation or failed surgery for hypospadias. In this article, the authors provide a concise general overview of urethral stricture and its management.

Background Intermittent self-dilatation (ISD) may be recommended to reduce the risk of recurrent urethral stricture. Level one evidence to support the use of this intervention is lacking. Objectives Determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of ISD for the management of urethral stricture disease in males. Search Methods The strategy developed for the Cochrane Incontinence Review Group as a whole (last searched May 7, 2014). Selection Criteria Randomised trials where one arm was a programme of ISD for urethral stricture. Data Collection and Analysis At least two independent review authors carried out trial assessment, selection, and data abstraction. Results Data from six trials that were pooled and collectively rated very low quality per the GRADE approach, indicated that recurrent urethral stricture was less likely in men who performed ISD than those who did not (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48–1.00). Two trials compared programmes of ISD but the data were not combined and neither were sufficiently robust to draw firm conclusions. Three trials compared devices for performing ISD, results from one of which were too uncertain to determine the effects of a low friction hydrophilic catheter versus a polyvinyl chloride catheter on risk of recurrent urethral stricture (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.40); another did not find evidence of a difference between 1% triamcinolone gel for lubricating the ISD catheter versus water-based gel on risk of recurrent urethral stricture (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.32). No trials gave cost-effectiveness or validated PRO data. Conclusions ISD may decrease the risk of recurrent urethral stricture. A well-designed RCT is required to determine whether that benefit alone is sufficient to make this intervention worthwhile and in whom. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:759–763, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In this systematic review of the literature, a search of the PubMed database was conducted to identify articles dealing with augmentation/substitution urethral reconstruction of the anterior urethral stricture. The evidence was categorized by stricture site, surgical technique, and the type of tissue used. The committee appointed by the International Consultation on Urological Disease reviewed this data and produced a consensus statement relating to the augmentation and substitution of the anterior urethra. In this review article, the background pathophysiology is discussed. Most cases of urethral stricture disease in the anterior urethra are consequent on an ischemic spongiofibrosis. The choice of technique and the surgical approach are discussed along with the potential pros and cons of the use of a graft vs a flap. There is research potential for tissue engineering. The efficacy of the surgical approach to the urethra is reviewed. Whenever possible, a 1-stage approach is preferable from the patient's perspective. In some cases, with complex penile urethral strictures, a 2-stage procedure might be appropriate, and there is an important potential role for the use of a perineal urethrostomy in cases where there is an extensive anterior urethral stricture or where the patient does not wish to undergo complex surgery, or medical contraindications make this hazardous. It is important to have accurate outcome measures for the follow-up of patients, and in this context, a full account needs to be taken of patients' perspectives by the use of appropriate patient-reported outcome measures. The use of symptoms and a flow rate can be misleading. It is well established that with a normally functioning bladder, the flow rate does not diminish until the caliber of the urethra falls below 10F. The most accurate means of following up patients after stricture surgery are by the use of endoscopy or visualization by urethrography. Careful consideration needs to be made of the outcomes reported in the world literature, bearing in mind these aforementioned points. The article concludes with an overview of the key recommendations provided by the committee.

PurposeRectourethral fistula is a known complication of prostate cancer treatment. Reports in the literature on rectourethral fistula repair technique and outcomes are limited to single institution series. We examined the variations in technique and outcomes of rectourethral fistula repair in a multi-institutional setting.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively identified patients who underwent rectourethral fistula repair after prostate cancer treatment at 1 of 4 large volume reconstructive urology centers, including University of California-San Francisco, University College London Hospitals, Lahey Clinic and Devine-Jordan Center for Reconstructive Surgery, in a 15-year period. We examined the types of prostate cancer treatment, technical aspects of rectourethral fistula repair and outcomes.ResultsAfter prostate cancer treatment 201 patients underwent rectourethral fistula repair. The fistula developed in 97 men (48.2%) after radical prostatectomy alone and in 104 (51.8%) who received a form of energy ablation. In the ablation group 84% of patients underwent bowel diversion before rectourethral fistula repair compared to 65% in the prostatectomy group. An interposition flap or graft was placed in 91% and 92% of the 2 groups, respectively. Concomitant bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture developed in 26% of patients in the ablation group and in 14% in the prostatectomy group. Postoperatively the rates of urinary incontinence and complications were higher in the energy ablation group at 35% and 25% vs 16% and 11%, respectively. The ultimate success rate of fistula repair in the energy ablation and radical prostatectomy groups was 87% and 99% with 92% overall success.ConclusionsRectourethral fistulas due to prostate cancer therapy can be reconstructed successfully in a high percent of patients. This avoids permanent urinary diversion in these complex cases.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Bulbo-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty (BPA) for urethral injuries associated with traumatic disruption of the pelvic ring is notoriously a surgical challenge, often requiring various manouvres to straighten the course of the bulbar urethra and bridge the resulting defect. There are however other factors which may render the reconstructive procedure more complex. This study investigates these factors. METHODS: 360 BPAs were performed in a single tertiary referral centre between October 1996 and October 2014. 77 (21%) were revision procedures. Mean patient age was 37.9 years. Mean follow-up was 51 months (range 9-115 months). Recurrence was defined radiologically and/or by the need for any further surgical intervention including dilatation or urethrotomy. RESULTS: 286 (79%) procedures were carried out transperineally (Step 1-4) while 74 (21%) required additional abdominal exposure to mobilise the bladder bladder base (n1⁄416), repair associated injuries (n1⁄441) or perform an entero-urethroplasty (n1⁄417). 29 of 74 (39%) abdomino-perineal (AP) procedures were revisions. 48 of 77 revisions (62%) were performed via a transperineal approach. The restricture rate was higher for revision procedures compared to primary ones when approached transperineally (15% vs 8%) but not for AP procedures (21% in both primary and revision cases). Overall, the recurrence rate for AP procedures was 21% compared to 9% for the transperineal approach. Associated bladder neck injury (n1⁄418), uro-rectal/perineal fistulae (n1⁄415), perineal degloving injury (n1⁄46), anterior urethral stricture (n1⁄419) and osteomyelitis/pelvic sepsis (n1⁄410) were identified as factors adding complexity to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: A longer defect and revisional surgery often require corporal separation, inferior wedge pubectomy and rerouting of the urethra around the crura in a stepwise fashion in order to guarantee a tension-free anastomosis. These render the procedure more difficult but do not necessarily imply increasing complexity. Factors necessitating a change in approach (usually but not exclusively requiring additional abdominal exposure) to deal with multiple pathologies such as the need for bladder neck reconstruction or concominant anterior urethral strictures are what render the procedure complex.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Urethral strictures, bladder neck and posterior urethral contractures, and urorectal fistulation are three well-recognised complications of the treatment of prostate cancer, whether by surgery or non-surgical treatment. Because these are relatively rare problems the treatment is uncertain. There is a heavy reliance on endoscopic or instrumental management of urethral strictures and of bladder neck and posterior urethral contractures, and there is little discrimination in any of these conditions between those that are the result of surgery and those that are the result of radiotherapy and other treatment methods using external energy sources. This review aims to clarify out current understanding of these three clinical problems and draws attention to the role of reconstructive surgery, particularly when dealing with bladder neck contractures, prostatic urethral stenoses and urorectal fistula. This also shows that the nature of the problem, the recovery time after treatment and the degree of functional recovery is radically different in the surgical as against the non-surgical group, to a degree that the authors believe is not sufficiently stressed when patients are counselled and consented before their primary treatment. • To review the less common and not widely discussed, but much more serious complications of prostate cancer treatment of: urethral stricture, bladder neck contracture and urorectal fistula. • The treatment options for patients with organ-confirmed prostate cancer include: radical prostatectomy (RP), brachytherapy (BT), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy; with each method or combination of methods having associated complications. • Complications resulting from RP are relatively easy to manage, with rapid recovery and return to normal activities, and usually a return to normal bodily functions. • However, after non-surgical treatments, i.e. BT, EBRT, HIFU and cryotherapy, these same problems are more difficult to treat with a much slower return to a much lower level of function. • When counselling patients about the primary treatment of prostate cancer they should be advised that although the same type of complication may occur after surgical or non-surgical treatment, the scope and scale of that complication, the ease with which it is treated and the degree of restoration of normality after treatment, is altogether in favour of surgery in those for whom surgery is appropriate and who are fit for surgery.

Objective To report our early experience with a novel approach to the excision and end-to-end anastomotic repair of bulbar urethral strictures. Patients and methods A total of 22 patients underwent excision and end-to-end anastomosis of a proximal bulbar urethral stricture using a technique in which the corpus spongiosum is not transected, so as to maintain its blood supply intact. The range of follow-up was 6-21 months and for 16 patients the follow up was ≥1 year. Results At 1 year of follow-up there was no evidence of a recurrent stricture on symptomatic assessment or uroflowmetry in the 16 patients. On urethrography one patient has a urethral calibre 80% of normal. In the other 15 the calibre is normal or greater than normal. Conclusion The non-transecting anastomotic bulbar urethroplasty technique used appears to give results that are as good as those of traditional anastomotic urethroplasty with less surgical trauma.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? It is known that urorectal fistulae is a serious but rare complication of the treatment of carcinoma of the prostate. This study adds a distinction between post-surgical fistulate and post-irradiation fistulae. Essentially most post-surgical fistulae are simple and relatively easily dealt with: the expectation is that the patient will return to normality; whereas post-irradiation fistulate are by their nature complex and much more difficult to treat with a much more uncertain long-term outcome. Complexity is discussed and defined. OBJECTIVE • To evaluate the management of urorectal fistulae (URF) in light of new technology in prostate cancer treatment, which has changed the nature of these URF and, therefore, the approach to treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS • Between 2004 and 2009 we repaired URF after treatment for prostate cancer in 40 patients with a minimum of 1-year follow-up since their last intervention. • In 23 patients (post-surgical group) the URF resulted from open, laparoscopic or robotic radical prostatectomy. In the other 17 patients (post-irradiation group) the URF resulted from either external beam radiation (EBRT) or brachytherapy (BT), or both, salvage cryotherapy or salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (sHIFU). • In the 23 patients in the post-surgical group a transperineal repair was performed. In the post-irradiation group a transperineal repair was performed in three of the 17 patients. A transabdominal or abdominoperineal repair was performed in the remaining 14 patients, combined with salvage radical prostatectomy in those eight patients in whom a discrete prostate still existed, and in whom this was possible. RESULTS • The URF were cured in all patients. • A bladder-neck contracture (BNC) developed in two patients, one of whom is being managed by interval dilatation and the other of whom had a revision of his vesico-urethral anastomosis. Sphincter weakness incontinence required further treatment in eight patients by implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter. • A specific category of complex URF with cavitation was identified, which is particularly common after sHIFU following the combination of previous EBRT and BT, but which may result from the sequential application of any ‘new technology’. CONCLUSIONS • URF of any degree of complexity can be managed without the need for a transanorectal sphincter-splitting approach or a covering colostomy and without the need for an interposition flap when the circumstances are appropriate and the surgeon is sufficiently experienced. URF with cavitation and in the post-irradiation group are an exception and do require an interposition flap. • The role of salvage radical prostatectomy in patients with a URF who still have a prostate, needs to be defined. • We suggest that cavitation, BNC and extensive ischaemia due to the serial application of external energy sources confer ‘complexity’. Post-surgical URF are simple except for those with cavitation or a BNC. Most post-irradiation URF are complex even in the absence of cavitation or a BNC.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To describe a salvage procedure for bulbo-membranous stricture disease or trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Over a 10-year period 11 patients with otherwise unsalvageable strictures of the bulbo-membranous urethra or defects after trauma were treated by interposition of a tailored intestinal flap. An intestinal flap, on average 8 cm in length, was harvested from the ileum, the stomach, the right colon or (preferably) the sigmoid colon, and tailored to a calibre of 26–30 F. It was then sutured between the stump of the prostate and the distal bulbar or proximal pendulous urethra either following the normal perineal route for the urethra or a more direct route through a trench cut in the superior pubic ramus. RESULTS Three patients developed proximal anastomotic contractures requiring interval dilatation in one and revision in two. Two patients developed a stone in the gut segment one of which was removed traumatically causing irreparable damage to the neourethra. The results were otherwise satisfactory. CONCLUSION For an otherwise unsalvageable bulbo-membranous stricture or defect, a tailored flap of intestine, preferably sigmoid colon, gives satisfactory results. Of the two potential routes for the neourethra, we have more experience with the normal route but the direct route has several advantages.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the observation of particular pelvic fracture patterns enables the clinician to predict the presence and type of injuries to the lower urinary tract, as the mechanisms of injury to the lower urinary tract in association with fractures of the pelvic ring are unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS The case-notes and radiographs of 168 patients with either pelvic ring or acetabular fractures were reviewed; 108 pelvic ring fractures (81 men, 27 women) and 60 acetabular fractures (46 men, 14 women). The pelvic fractures were classified according to the system described by Tile and were correlated with the incidence and type of lower urinary tract injury (LUTI). RESULTS Overall, of the 108 men and women with pelvic ring fractures, 27 (25%) had a LUTI documented either radiologically or as an intraoperative finding. Of the 81 men with pelvic ring fractures, 24 (30%) had a LUTI, of whom six (7%) had an isolated bladder laceration, 14 (17%) a partial urethral injury (PUI) and four (5%) a complete urethral disruption (CUD). Five of the 18 men with urethral injuries also had bladder injuries and in three of these, the bladder neck was also injured. Three of 27 women (11%) had a LUTI, all of whom had isolated bladder lacerations. Of the 46 men with an acetabular fracture, one (2%) had a CUD, and three (7%) had a PUI. One of 14 of women with an acetabular fracture sustained a bladder laceration. None of the three men with a Tile Type-A pelvic ring fracture sustained a LUTI. Of the 28 men with 'open-book' (Tile Type-B1) fractures, 21 (75%) had no associated LUTI and seven (25%) had a LUTI (five partial urethral injuries and two bladder lacerations). Of the 10 men with 'lateral compression' (Tile Type-B2) fractures, six had no LUTI and four had a LUTI (two partial urethral injuries and two bladder lacerations). Of the 40 men with 'vertical shear' (Tile Type-C) fractures, 27 (68%) had no LUTI and 13 (32%) a LUTI (four complete urethral disruptions, seven partial urethral injuries, and two bladder lacerations) including all of the combined bladder and urethral injuries and all of the bladder neck injuries. CONCLUSION The pelvic fracture pattern alone does not predict the presence of a LUTI. When it occurs, the type of LUTI appears to be related to the fracture mechanism. The pattern of injury to the soft tissue envelope and specifically to the ligaments supporting the lower urinary tract offers the best correlation with the observed LUTI. We propose a mechanism for this.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: While the perineal urethrostomy (PU) has proven to be a highly successful option for patients with complex urethral stricture disease, it is often utilized as a last resort. The perceived disadvantages of this procedure include the loss of normal anatomy, need to sit to urinate, and concerns about potency and sexual function. We aim to describe our contemporary series of patients treated with perineal urethrostomy. METHODS: We conducted an IRB approved, retrospective review of all patients who underwent PU from 1996 to 2012. Inclusion criteria were age > 18 and male gender. Patients with a temporary PU as part of a staged repair were excluded. Data extracted included patient demographics, stricture etiology, comorbidities, previous therapies, and need for subsequent interventions. All patients who received perineal urethrostomy as definitive management were included in the analysis. PU was considered successful if there was no need for subsequent interventions including dilations, self-calibration or surgical revision. RESULTS: A total of 718 patients underwent urethral reconstruction in the studied time period. Of these, 56 received a PU (7.8%). Etiology was lichen sclerosus in 20 (36%), hypospadias in 10 (18%), and trauma or idiopathic in 26 (46%). Mean follow-up was 21 months. All of these cases consisted of creation of a posteriorly based flap perineal urethrostomy as described by Barbagli. Eight out of 56 patients received a PU after electing not to proceed with a planned second stage urethroplasty. Twenty-eight of the 48 (58%) patients who intended to have definitive PU had failed at least one previous urethroplasty compared with 2 of 8 (25%) patients intending to have staged repair (p1⁄40.1). Of the 56 patients, two patients (3.6%) developed stenosis of the PU. One patient underwent a successful revision of the perineal urethrostomy and the other was placed on self-dilations. Prior radiation, stricture etiology, BMI, diabetes, prior urethroplasty, and stricture length were not predictive of failure. CONCLUSIONS: Perineal urethrostomy is a highly successful technique for severe urethral stricture disease that arrests the need for further interventions in the vast majority of cases with a very low complication or revision rate.

Purpose: The pathophysiology of urinary retention in women is generally unknown but a subgroup of women with urinary retention have been diagnosed as having so-called primary disorder of sphincter relaxation on the basis of an abnormal urethral sphincter electromyogram. It was suggested this sphincter overactivity could lead to work hypertrophy of the urethral rhabdosphincter and in this study we looked for any evidence of such muscle fiber hypertrophy. Materials and Methods: In 9 women 18 to 45 years old (mean age 31.6) with urinary retention and overactive urethral sphincter electromyogram, light and electron microscopy were used to examine core needle biopsies of the urethral rhabdosphincter taken under transvaginal ultrasound control. Of the 9 patients only 5 biopsies processed for light microscopy and 4 processed for electron microscopy contained striated urethral muscle fibers. The results of these biopsies were compared to the morphology of a control specimen from a postmenopausal woman without a history of urinary retention. Results: On light microscopy the urethral rhabdosphincter fiber diameter did not differ among patients (mean average 7.6 μm), was less than that reported in the literature (15 to 20), but did not differ from that of the control (mean 9.9). In all patients electron microscopy showed excessive peripheral sarcoplasm with lipid and glycogen deposition, and sarcoplasmic accumulation of normal mitochondria. These ultrastructural abnormalities were not seen in the control. Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first morphological description of the urethral rhabdosphincter in a subgroup of women with urinary retention. Mean rhabdosphincter fiber diameter was approximately the same in patients and controls. This study does not support the previous theory that urethral sphincter overactivity in a subgroup of women with urinary retention leads to work hyperplasia of urethral rhabdosphincter fibers. An alternative hypothesis is suggested.

Purpose: We assess the medium and long-term morbidity of buccal mucosal graft (BMG) harvest for urethroplasty, and evaluate the effect of nonclosure of the graft harvest site on postoperative pain. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 110 men who underwent BMG urethroplasty between January 1, 1997 and August 31, 2002. Demographic data and side effects of BMG harvest, including oral pain, sensation and intake, were assessed postoperatively. A prospective study was then performed to compare 20 unselected men whose BMG donor site was closed with a group of 20 men in whom it was left open using a 5-point analog pain score that was completed twice daily for the first 5 postoperative days. Results: A total of 49 men with a median age of 49 years (range 23 to 73) returned questionnaires relating to 57 BMG harvests. Of the graft harvests 47 (83%) were associated with postoperative pain, which was worse than expected in 24 (51%). Of the 57 patients 51 (90%) resumed oral liquid intake within 24 hours and 44 (77%) resumed normal diet within 1 week. Postoperative side effects included perioral numbness in 39 (68%) patients with 15 (26%) having residual numbness after 6 months, initial difficulty with mouth opening in 38 (67%) with 5 (9%) having persistent problems, changes in salivation in 6 (11%) and mucous retention cyst that required excision in 1 (2%). The men in the prospective donor site study had a median age of 51 years (range 24 to 70). Mean pain score for patients with donor site closure was 3.68 and was significantly higher than that for patients without donor site closure (2.26, p Conclusions: Buccal mucosal graft harvest is not a pain-free procedure. Closure of the harvest donor site appears to worsen this pain and it may be best to leave harvest sites open. The main long-term complications are perioral numbness, persistent difficulty with mouth opening and change in salivary function.

To determine whether transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate is equally reliable and acceptable if performed by urology nurse practitioner or urologist.Octant biopsies were taken by each operator (consultant urologist n=2, urology specialist registrar n=1 and urology nurse practitioner n=2) from 50 consecutive unselected patients and demographics and cancer detection rate were compared between the groups. A postal survey was performed following nurse practitioner biopsy to assess patient satisfaction and acceptance of nurse practitioner biopsy.Transrectal ultrasound-biopsy of prostate whether performed by nurse practitioner or urologist is equally reliable if adequate training is provided. Patients are happy to undergo prostate biopsy and receive information about the diagnosis from an appropriately trained prostate cancer nurse specialist.

Purpose: Pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects (PFUDDs) are generally treated surgically by a so-called progression approach consisting of 4 steps to achieve a tension-free bulboprostatic anastomosis. Implicitly the need for each step in turn is predictable according to the length of the defect on preoperative x-ray.Materials and Methods: In 62 evaluable patients with PFUDD the length of the radiological defect was compared with the surgical steps that subsequently proved necessary to achieve a tension-free bulboprostatic anastomosis.Results: Except at the extremes of length there was no association between defect length and the scale of the surgery performed.Conclusions: Surgeons preparing to repair an apparently short PFUDD cannot assume that simple repair is all that is necessary.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Previous publications have reported on the role of ureteral reconstructive techniques for repair of ureteral defects from extirpative surgery for urologic malignancies or external trauma. Our institution has managed a large volume of ureteral obstruction and injuries from other sources such as iatrogenic injury during pelvic surgery and retroperitoneal fibrosis. We sought to review this experience, report on outcomes, and develop an algorithm for treatment. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 139 patients that underwent ureteral reconstruction or endoscopic treatment of ureteral injury in an eleven-year period at a single institution by three surgeons (TTH, PJM, BJF). Data including mechanism of injury, type of repair, location of injury, length of stricture, comorbid factors, length of follow up, success rate, complications, and need for secondary procedures was obtained. Success rate was defined based on ureteral patency and stabilization or improvement of renal function. RESULTS: 115 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 18 were bilateral systems, for a total of 133 renal units. 24 patients were excluded due to primary repair for UPJ obstruction, active malignancy, or external traumatic injuries. Mechanism of injury included iatrogenic injury during pelvic surgery (50%), radiation-induced or idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (26%), endoscopic stone surgery (4%), and other (20%). Location of the injury was proximal (22%), mid (36%), and distal ureter (42%). The average length of stricture was 5 cm. The type of repair included ureterolysis +/omentoplasty (n 1⁄4 17), ureteroureterostomy (n 1⁄4 5), ureteral reimplant +/psoas hitch (n 1⁄4 58), Boari Flap (n 1⁄4 2), TUU (n 1⁄4 3), ileal ureter (n 1⁄4 39). Our primary success rate was 93%, with 7% of patients undergoing a subsequent procedure. Of the 9 failures, 3 underwent successful secondary procedure for a total success rate of 95%. There were 11 major complications defined as a Clavien grade 3 or greater including bowel obstruction, enterocutaneous fistula, anastomotic dehiscence, boari flap necrosis, and one death within 90 days. Median length of follow up was 121 days. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteral reconstruction for benign stricture disease is highly successful. Most strictures can be resolved utilizing simple techniques such as ureteral reimplantation +/psoas hitch. Longer strictures, particularly those involving the proximal or mid ureter, often require complex techniques such as ileal-ureteral substitution.

Objective To compare the surgical outcome using buccal mucosal free grafts in the Barbagli procedure (dorsal stricturotomy and patch technique) with the traditional ventral approach, for long bulbar urethral strictures. Patients and methods Over a period of 6 years, a total of 71 patients with bulbar urethral strictures underwent buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty. Twenty-nine patients had a traditional ventral urethroplasty and 42 were managed by the Barbagli procedure with the stricturotomy and patch on the dorsal aspect of the urethra. Results At 5 years of follow-up 5% of patients who underwent the Barbagli procedure developed recurrent strictures, compared to 14% in the traditional ventral stricturotomy group. All patients developed postmicturition dribble of urine to some degree, which was troublesome in 17% in the Barbagli group and 21% in the ventral stricturotomy group. Complications attributable to out-pouching of the graft were not seen in either group. Conclusions The dorsal stricturotomy and patch (Barbagli) procedure had a higher success rate than the traditional ventral urethroplasty. Comparing these results with our experience of skin inlay urethroplasty, buccal mucosal grafts seem to have advantages however they are used.

Purpose: We examine the urethral injury associated with pelvic fracture that is said to be due to a shearing force through the membranous urethra which inevitably destroys the urethral sphincter mechanism.Materials and Methods: A total of 20 asymptomatic cases were prospectively studied, including symptomatically, radiologically, endoscopically and urodynamically, 1 to 4 years after an apparently successful anastomotic repair of a pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect.Results: There was evidence of urethral sphincter function, including urodynamically in 11 (55%), endoscopically in 13 (65%) and functionally in 17 (85%) patients.Conclusions: These findings, coupled with surgical observation, suggest that the urethral injury associated with pelvic fracture is avulsion of the membranous urethra from the bulbar urethra rather than a shearing through the membranous urethra, and that some degree of urethral sphincter function is preserved in a significant percentage of patients.

Purpose: Buccal mucosal grafts and the Barbagli technique are recent developments in the treatment of urethral strictures.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the results of and experience with urethroplasty using buccal mucosal graft in 128 patients.Results: The re-stricture rate was 11% for patch grafts and 45% for tube grafts. There were no other complications.Conclusions: Buccal mucosal graft is at least as good as any other material for substitution urethroplasty with fewer complications. The 2-stage is more reliable than the stage 1 approach for circumferential reconstruction of the urethra.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Neo-adjuvant chemoradiation is commonly administered nowadays prior to abdomino-perineal resection (APR) or anterior resection (AR) for locally invasive rectal cancer. This has changed the nature and severity of the urological complications that may arise from the surgery alone. METHODS: 21 patients (54-80, mean 63 years) presented 3 months to 3 years (mean 1 year) after surgery and radiotherapy for rectal cancer. 13 had a urocutaneous fistula or a urorectal fistula (URF) following APR. 4 developed a URF after AR. Four others presented with voiding difficulty and recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) after APR. All had pelvic pain which was inversely related to the volume of the leakage. Retrograde urethrography and MRI showed a fistulous track, usually arising from the prostatic urethra, between the verumontanum and the bladder neck, with a variable degree of cavitation into the presacral space in all. Four patients with less troublesome symptoms were treated conservatively but 1 subsequently required surgery for an infected cavity that ruptured. He and 15 of the 17 others had the cavitating fistula excised and a repair of the urinary defect, and of the rectum in those with a URF after an AR. The repair was transperineal in 12 and abdomino-perineal in 4. The other 2 had a single diversion of the urinary tract or the bowel with repair of the other system. RESULTS: 8 of 12 transperineal repairs were successful. 4 failed, generally because of failure to obliterate the presacral cavity with gracilis muscle, and were repeated abdomino-perineally. These and 4 other abdomino-perineal repairs (in which the omentum was used to pack the cavity) were all successful. In all, 8 patients required an augmentation cystoplasty to deal with a small bladder or to close the defect in the prostatic urethra or, usually, for both. 2 patients have required an Artificial Sphincter (AUS) subsequently; 5 wear 1-2 pads a day; the other 9 with a urinary reconstruction are dry. The post-operative recovery is commonly protracted. Although the surgery usually gives a clinically satisfactory result, the radiological result often appears anatomically imperfect. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with fistulae following treatment of rectal cancer can be salvaged and do not need a double diversion. Some, with minor symptoms, do not need surgery at all. Reconstruction is a major undertaking; is usually best done abdomino-perineally; commonly requires a cystoplasty for a small bladder or to close the defect in the prostatic urethra or both; and may need further surgery to implant an AUS.

We developed an algorithm for the management of urethral stricture based on cost-effectiveness.United Kingdom medical and hospital costs associated with the current management of urethral stricture were calculated using private medical insurance schedules of reimbursement and clean intermittent self-catheterization supply costs. These costs were applied to 126 new patients treated endoscopically for urethral stricture in a general urological setting between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1999. Treatment failure was defined as recurrent symptomatic stricture requiring further operative intervention following initial intervention. Mean followup available was 25 months (range 1 to 132).The costs were urethrotomy/urethral dilation 2,250.00 pounds sterling (3,375.00 dollars, ratio 1.00), simple 1-stage urethroplasty 5,015.00 pounds sterling (7,522.50 dollars, ratio 2.23), complex 1-stage urethroplasty 5,335.00 pounds sterling (8,002.50 dollars, ratio 2.37) and 2-stage urethroplasty 10,370 pounds sterling (15,555.00 dollars, ratio 4.61). Of the 126 patients assessed 60 (47.6%) required more than 1 endoscopic retreatments (mean 3.13 each), 50 performed biweekly clean intermittent self-catheterization and 7 underwent urethroplasty during followup. The total cost per patient for all 126 patients for stricture treatment during followup was 6,113 pounds sterling (9,170 dollars). This cost was calculated by multiplying procedure cost by the number of procedures performed. A strategy of urethrotomy or urethral dilation as first line treatment, followed by urethroplasty for recurrence yielded a total cost per patient of 5,866 pounds sterling (8,799 dollars).A strategy of initial urethrotomy or urethral dilation followed by urethroplasty in patients with recurrent stricture proves to be the most cost-effective strategy. This financially based strategy concurs with evidence based best practice for urethral stricture management.

Studies of interventions for urethral stricture have inferred patient benefit from clinician-driven outcomes or questionnaires lacking scientifically robust evidence of their measurement properties for men with this disease.To evaluate urethral reconstruction from the patients' perspective using a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM).Forty-six men with anterior urethral stricture at four UK urology centres completed the PROM before (baseline) and 2 yr after urethroplasty.A psychometrically robust PROM for men with urethral stricture disease.Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), health status, and treatment satisfaction were measured, and paired t and Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests were used for comparative analysis.Thirty-eight men underwent urethroplasty for bulbar stricture and eight for penile stricture. The median (range) follow-up was 25 (20-30) mo. Total LUTS scores (0 = least symptomatic, 24 = most symptomatic) improved from a median of 12 at baseline to 4 at 2 yr (mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] of differences 6.6 [4.2-9.1], p0.0001). A total of 33 men (72%) felt their urinary symptoms interfered less with their overall quality of life, 8 (17%) reported no change, and 5 (11%) were worse 2 yr after urethroplasty. Overall, 40 men (87%) remained "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the outcome of their operation. Health status visual analogue scale scores (100 = best imaginable health, 0 = worst) 2 yr after urethroplasty improved from a mean of 69 at baseline to 79 (mean [95% CI] of differences 10 [2-18], p = 0.018). Health state index scores (1 = full health, 0 = dead) improved from 0.79 at baseline to 0.89 at 2 yr (mean [95% CI] of differences 0.10 [0.02-0.18), p = 0.012]).This is the first study to prospectively evaluate urethral reconstruction using a validated PROM. Men reported continued relief from symptoms with related improvements in overall health status 2 yr after urethroplasty. These data can be used as a provisional reference point against which urethral surgeons can benchmark their performance.

Urinary incontinence (UI) in men is a significant health and social issue with a reported incidence of up to 39 % especially with increasing age. The majority of sufferers can be managed safely and effectively by the primary health-care physician in the community. However, incontinence may also be the presenting feature of serious underlying pathologies such as bladder tumors or stones. It may also lead to significant complications if unrecognized or left untreated as in the case of chronic retention with overflow incontinence and its effect on the upper tracts eventually resulting in renal impairment. Besides it represents significant impact on the patient’s quality of life and that of his carers.

Purpose: We update our long-term data on the effectiveness of urethroplasty.Materials and Methods: A total of 166 patients operated on before 1990 are currently under followup or lived at least 10 years after surgery. Anastomotic urethroplasty was performed in 82 patients and substitution urethroplasty in 84.Results: The 5, 10 and 15-year re-stricture rates after anastomotic urethroplasty were 12%, 13% and 14%, respectively, and the complication rate was 7%. The 5, 10 and 15-year re-stricture rates after substitution urethroplasty were 21%, 31% and 58%, respectively, and the complication rate was 33%.Conclusions: The results of anastomotic urethroplasty are good and sustained in the long term, while the results of substitution urethroplasty deteriorate steadily with time and there is definite room for improvement. An anastomotic repair should be performed in preference to a substitution repair when possible.

Objective To characterize conservative management of urorectal fistulae (URF). Methods URF are a recognized but rare complication of treatments for prostate and rectal cancers. URF can lead to incontinence, fecaluria, pain, urinary infection, and sepsis, and thus are usually treated surgically. We present a series of 3 patients whose complex URF were managed conservatively. Between 2004 and 2010, 43 patients were diagnosed with URF resulting from treatment for prostate or rectal cancer. All patients were evaluated and offered surgical treatment; 40 patients elected surgical therapy, and 3 patients chose conservative, nonoperative management of the URF. The primary outcome was the patient choosing or needing formal surgical URF closure. Because this was not a comparative study, no formal statistical analysis was undertaken. Results The 3 patients have been regularly monitored and have required symptomatic and episodic care. None, however, has opted for formal surgical fistula repair, and to date, all continue in conservative management of their URF. Conclusion Spontaneous URF closure is uncommon and is unknown to occur in complex URF. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Patients should consider treatment options, potential outcomes, and their quality of life when choosing or not choosing treatment. The applicability and durability of conservative management of URF remains unclear.

Purpose: We present our results managing anterior urethral strictures previously treated with urethroplasty and/or urethrotomy.Materials and Methods: During a 32-month period 69 males 10 to 76 years old (mean age 36) underwent treatment for anterior urethral stricture, including 32 (46%) and 26 (38%) previously treated with urethroplasty and urethrotomy, respectively. In 11 patients (16%) no previous procedures had been done. Anastomotic and dorsal patch urethroplasty was performed for bulbar stricture in 13 and 14 cases, respectively, while in 4 a penile skin flap was placed for penile stricture and in 38 a 2-stage procedure was done with urethral substitution using buccal mucosa or post-auricular skin grafts. Patients were followed with ascending urethrography at 3 weeks, and 12 and 18 months as well as with uroflowmetry. Symptoms were assessed for 6 months to 4 years.Results: Only 1 stricture recurred in patients treated with anastomotic or patch urethroplasty, or a skin flap. Of the patients scheduled...

Purpose of review This study provides an overview of current thinking about urethroplasty. Recent findings There have been a number of recent developments, principally to minimize the trauma of anterior urethroplasty and to address the posterior urethral complications of the treatment of prostate cancer. There also have been significant developments in the assessment of the outcome of urethroplasty and specifically of patient reported outcome measures. Summary These trends are likely to continue. There also seems to be a real possibility that cell culture techniques may finally produce clinically useful material for surgical practice.

A systematic literature review did not identify a formally validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for urethral stricture surgery.Devise a PROM for urethral stricture surgery and evaluate its psychometric properties in a pilot study to determine suitability for wider implementation.Constructs were identified from existing condition-specific and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments. Men scheduled for urethroplasty were prospectively enrolled at five centres.Participants self-completed the draft PROM before and 6 mo after surgery.Question sets underwent psychometric assessment targeting criterion and content validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, acceptability, and responsiveness.A total of 85 men completed the preoperative PROM, with 49 also completing the postoperative PROM at a median of 146 d; and 31 the preoperative PROM twice at a median interval of 22 d for test-retest analysis. Expert opinion and patient feedback supported content validity. Excellent correlation between voiding symptom scores and maximum flow rate (r = -0.75), supported by parallel improvements in EQ-5D visual analogue and time trade-off scores, established criterion validity. Test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.91 for the total voiding score and 0.93 for the construct overall; Cronbach's α was 0.80, ranging from 0.76 to 0.80 with any one item deleted. Item-total correlations ranged from 0.44 to 0.63. These values surpassed our predefined thresholds for item inclusion. Significant improvements in condition-specific and HRQoL components following urethroplasty demonstrated responsiveness to change (p0.0001). Wider implementation and review of the PROM will be required to establish generalisability across different disease states and for more complex interventions.This pilot study has defined a succinct, practical, and psychometrically robust PROM designed specifically to quantify changes in voiding symptoms and HRQoL following urethral stricture surgery.

Context There is no clear evidence that determines which type of urethroplasty to perform under which particular circumstance. Objective To review the options for urethroplasty at different sites in the urethra and for different types of stricture indicating which procedure should be used in which circumstances according to the best available evidence. Evidence acquisition Recent publications have been reviewed and supplemented with the authors' personal experience. Evidence synthesis Currently, in the developed world, the most common types of stricture are relatively short and are situated in the bulbar urethra. There is good evidence that these are best treated by excision and end-to-end anastomosis if they are short enough or by patch urethroplasty using a buccal mucosal graft if they are longer. Distal penile urethral strictures are the next most common type of stricture, but the evidence base is weaker, although there is agreement that penile strictures due to lichen sclerosus often require a staged approach to reconstruction, again using buccal mucosal grafts. Urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral injury is an altogether different type of technique for an altogether different type of pathology. There is good evidence that this is best treated by bulbo-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty. Other types of strictures and salvage surgery have no good evidence base and are specialised areas where experience and judgement are necessary. Conclusions The evidence base for urethral surgery has been developed for the more common types of urethral strictures in the last 20 yr, but it is still as much an art as it is a science.

Posterior urethral strictures are not common and in the context of this chapter they are not really strictures – they are best called pelvic fracture-related urethral injuries. They are generally repaired transperineally with very satisfactory results but some injuries can be technically very challenging and the consequences of inadequate or inexpert surgery of even straightforward cases can be devastating. This is not an area for amateurs.