Factors contributing to a successful outcome of combined abdominal transpubic perineal urethroplasty for complex posterior urethral disruptions

Abstract

Purpose: We present our results of and operative principles essential for a successful outcome of complex posterior urethral disruption management.

Materials and methods: A total of 25 patients underwent abdominal transpubic perineal urethroplasty for complex posterior urethral disruption. Preoperative voiding cystourethrogram with retrograde urethrogram and cystourethroscopy were done to evaluate the stricture and bladder neck. Followup consisted of symptomatic and radiological assessment.

Results: Patient age was 22 to 57 years. Average followup was 24 months (range 11 to 39). Four patients had previously undergone failed perineal urethroplasty. A rectourethral fistula was present in 8 patients, of whom 2 required colonic diversion, while there were false passages in 3, a periurethral cavity with abscess in 6 and bladder neck laceration in 20. Mean stricture length +/- SD was 6.5 +/- 2.5 cm (range 4 to 9). Four of the 25 patients had previously undergone failed perineal urethroplasty. The mean period between original trauma/failed repair and definitive repair was 11.5 +/- 4.4 months. Urethroplasty could be achieved through the normal subpubic route in 19 patients, while 6 required supracrural rerouting. A total of 20 patients underwent simultaneous bladder neck repair. In 24 of 25 patients (96%) postoperative cystourethrography showed a wide, patent anastomosis. Postoperatively incontinence developed in 1 of 25 patients (4%). Ten of the 25 patients (40%) were impotent after the primary injury. Potency status in our patients did not change after urethroplasty. The overall urethroplasty success rate was 92%.

Conclusions: Hostile conditions in the perineum of patients with complex posterior urethral disruption mitigate against a good result. However, the safety and success of combined abdominal transpubic perineal urethroplasty make it the procedure of choice for these difficult strictures.