Outcomes of Urethroplasty for Synchronous Anterior Urethral Stricture Utilizing the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons Length, Segment and Etiology Anterior Urethral Stricture Classification System.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, management, and functional outcomes of patients with synchronous urethral stricture disease (SUSD) utilizing a multi-institutional cohort. METHODS: Data were collected and assessed from a prospectively maintained, multi-institutional database. Patients who underwent anterior urethroplasty for urethral stricture disease (USD) were included and stratified by the presence or absence of SUSD. USD location and etiology were classified according to the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons Length, Segment and Etiology Anterior Urethral Stricture Classification System. Anterior urethroplasty techniques were recorded for both strictures. Functional failure was compared between groups. RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred eighty-three patients were identified, of whom, 137/1983 (6.9%) had SUSD. The mean primary stricture length for patients with SUSD was 3.5 and 2.6 cm for the secondary stricture. Twelve anterior urethroplasty technique combinations were utilized in treating the 27 different combinations of SUSD. Functional failure was noted in 18/137 (13.1%) patients with SUSD vs 192/1846 (10.4%) patients with solitary USD, P = .3. SUSD was not associated with increased odds of functional failure. S classifications: S1b, P = .003, S2a, P = .001, S2b, P = .01 and S2c, P = .02 and E classifications: E3a, P = .004 and E6, P = .03, were associated with increased odds of functional failure. CONCLUSION: Repair of SUSD in a single setting does not increase the risk of functional failure compared to patients with solitary USD. Increasing S classification, S1b through S2c and E classifications E3a and E6 were associated with increased functional failure. This reinforces the importance of the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons Length, Segment and Etiology Anterior Urethral Stricture Classification System as a necessary tool in large-scale multi-institutional analysis when assessing highly heterogenous patient populations.

Clinical Validation of an Adult-acquired Buried Penis Classification System Based on Standardized Evaluation of the Penis, Abdomen, and Scrotum.

OBJECTIVE: To clinically validate a previously developed adult-acquired buried penis (AABP) classification system that is based on a standardized preoperative physical examination that subtypes patients by their penile skin/escutcheon complex (P), abdominal pannus (A), and scrotal skin (S). METHODS: The Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons (TURNS) database was used to create an AABP cohort. Patients were retrospectively classified using the previously described PAS classification system. The frequency of subtypes, surgical methods utilized for AABP repair, and correlations between PAS classification and surgery subtypes were analyzed. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 101 patients from 10 institutions. Interrater reliability between two reviewers was excellent (κ = 0.95). The most common subtypes were P2c (contributory escutcheon+insufficient penile skin; 27%) and P2a (contributory escutcheon+sufficient penile skin; 21%) for penile subtypes, A0 (no pannus; 41%) and A1 (noncontributory pannus; 39%) for abdominal subtypes, and S0 (normal scrotal skin with preserved scrotal sulcus; 71%) for scrotal subtypes. AABP repair procedures included escutcheonectomy (n = 59, 55%), scrotoplasty (n = 51, 48%), split-thickness skin grafting (n = 50, 47%), penile skin excision (n = 47, 44%) and panniculectomy (n = 7, 7%). P, A, and S subtypes were strongly associated with specific AABP surgical techniques. CONCLUSION: The PAS classification schema adequately describes AABP heterogeneity, is reproducible among observers, and correlates well with AABP surgery types. Future work will focus on how PAS subtypes affect both surgical and patient-centered outcomes.

The "Fragile" Urethra as a Predictor of Early Artificial Urinary Sphincter Erosion.

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of early artificial sphincter (AUS) erosion among a cohort of men with erosion, who underwent AUS placement by either university or community-based surgeons. METHODS: The records of all patients with AUS erosions, including men who underwent AUS placement at outside facilities, were retrospectively reviewed. A Cox proportional-hazards model for time to erosion was performed with the predictors being the components of a fragile urethra (history of radiation, prior AUS, prior urethroplasty), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), trans-corporal (TC), and 3.5 cm cuff, controlling for other risk factors. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test compared "fragile" urethras with "not fragile" urethras. All statistical analysis was done using R version 3.5.2. RESULTS: Of the 156 men included, 36% had undergone AUS placement in the community. Median time to erosion was 16.0 months (1.0-240.0 months), and 122 (78%) met at least one fragility criteria. Radiation (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.52-3.64) and prior urethroplasty (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.18-3.80) were independently associated with earlier time to erosion. The Kaplan-Meier estimates demonstrate 1- and 5-year survival rates of 76.5% and 50.0%, respectively, for "non-fragile" and 44.1% and 14.8% for "fragile" urethras (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: In a diverse cohort of men with AUS erosion, men with "fragile" urethras eroded sooner. Radiation and prior urethroplasty were independent risk factors for earlier time to erosion, but prior AUS, ADT, TC and 3.5 cm cuff were not.

Defining Success after Anterior Urethroplasty: An Argument for a Universal Definition and Surveillance Protocol.

PURPOSE: A successful urethroplasty has been defined in different ways across studies. This variety in the literature makes it difficult to compare success rates and techniques across studies. We aim to evaluate the success of anterior urethroplasty based on different definitions of success in a single cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from a multi-institutional, prospectively maintained database. We included men undergoing first-time, single-stage, anterior urethroplasty between 2006 and 2020. Exclusion criteria included lack of followup, hypospadias, extended meatotomy, perineal urethrostomy, posterior urethroplasty and staged repairs. We compared 5 different ways to define a "failed" urethroplasty: 1) stricture retreatment, 2) anatomical recurrence on cystoscopy, 3) peak flow rate <15 ml/second, 4) weak stream on questionnaire and 5) failure by any of these measures. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated for each of the definitions. We also compared outcomes by stricture length, location and etiology. RESULTS: A total of 712 men met inclusion criteria, including completion of all types of followup. The 1- and 5-year estimated probabilities of success were "retreatment," 94% and 75%; "cystoscopy," 88% and 71%; "uroflow," 84% and 58%; "questionnaire," 67% and 37%; and "any failure," 57% and 23%. This pattern was inconsistent across stricture length, location and etiology. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated probability of success after first-time, anterior urethroplasty is highly dependent on the way success is defined. The variability in definitions in the literature has limited our ability to compare urethroplasty outcomes across studies.

Minimizing Antibiotic Use in Urethral Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: There are no established guidelines regarding management of antibiotics for patients specifically undergoing urethral reconstruction. Our aim was to minimize antibiotic use by following a standardized protocol in the pre-, peri- and postoperative setting, and adhere to American Urological Association antibiotic guidelines. We hypothesized that prolonged suppressive antibiotics post-urethroplasty does not prevent urinary tract infection and/or wound infection rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively treated 900 patients undergoing urethroplasty or perineal urethrostomy at 11 centers over 2 years. The first-year cohort A received prolonged postoperative antibiotics. Year 2, cohort B, did not receive prolonged antibiotics. A standardized protocol following the American Urological Association guidelines for perioperative antibiotics was used. The 30-day postoperative infectious complications were determined. We used chi-square analysis to compare the cohorts, and multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors. RESULTS: The mean age of participants in both cohorts was 49.7 years old and the average stricture length was 4.09 cm. Overall, the rate of postoperative urinary tract infection and wound infection within 30 days was 5.1% (6.7% in phase 1 vs 3.9% in phase 2, p=0.064) and 3.9% (4.1% in phase 1 vs 3.7% in phase 2, p=0.772), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of patient characteristics and operative factors did not reveal any factors predictive of postoperative infections. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a standardized protocol minimized antibiotic use and demonstrated no benefit to prolonged antibiotic use. There were no identifiable risk factors when considering surgical characteristics. Given the concern of antibiotic over-prescription, we do not recommend prolonged antibiotic use after urethral reconstruction.

Urethroscopic Findings following Urethroplasty Predict the Need for Secondary Intervention in the Long Term: A Multi-Institutional Study from Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons.

PURPOSE: Postoperative surveillance urethroscopy has been shown to be an effective tool to predict reoperation within 1 year after urethroplasty. We aimed to evaluate early surveillance urethroscopy findings and long-term outcomes among urethroplasty patients in order to define the value of surveillance urethroscopy to predict failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 304 patients with at least 4 years of followup after urethroplasty performed at 10 institutions across the United States and Canada. All patients were surveilled using a flexible 17Fr cystoscope and were categorized into 3 groups: 1) normal lumen, 2) large-caliber stricture (≥17Fr) defined as the ability of the cystoscope to easily pass the narrowing and 3) small-caliber stricture (<17Fr) that the cystoscope could not be passed. Failure was stricture recurrence requiring a secondary intervention. RESULTS: The median followup time was 64.4 months (range 55.3-80.6) and the time to initial surveillance urethroscopy was 3.7 months (range 3.1-4.8) following urethroplasty. Secondary interventions were performed in 29 of 194 (15%) with normal lumens, 11 of 60 (18.3%) with ≥17Fr strictures and 32 of 50 (64%) with <17Fr strictures (p <0.001). The 1-, 3- and 9-year cumulative probability of intervention was 0.01, 0.06 and 0.23 for normal, 0.05, 0.17 and 0.18 for ≥17Fr, and 0.32, 0.50 and 0.73 for <17Fr lumen groups, respectively. Patient-reported outcome measures performed poorly to differentiate the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early cystoscopic visualization of scar recurrence that narrows the lumen to <17Fr following urethroplasty is a significant long-term predictor for patients who will eventually undergo a secondary intervention.

Durable Treatment of Refractory Vesicourethral Anastomotic Stenosis via Robotic-assisted Reconstruction: A Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons Study.

BACKGROUND: Refractory vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS) after radical prostatectomy poses challenges distinct from bladder neck contracture, due to close proximity to the sphincter mechanism. Open reconstruction is technically demanding, risking de novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or recurrence. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate patency and continence outcomes of robotic-assisted VUAS repair. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients with VUAS underwent robotic-assisted reconstruction from 2015 to 2020 in the Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons (TURNS) consortium of institutions. The minimum postoperative follow-up was 3 mo. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: The space of Retzius is dissected and fibrotic tissue at the vesicourethral anastomosis is excised. Reconstruction is performed with either a primary anastomotic or an anterior bladder flap-based technique. MEASUREMENTS: Patency was defined as either the passage of a 17 French flexible cystoscope or a peak flow on uroflowmetry of >15 ml/s. De novo SUI was defined as either more than one pad per day or need for operative intervention. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 32 patients met the criteria, of whom 16 (50%) had a history of pelvic radiation. Intraoperatively, 15 (47%) patients had obliterative VUAS. The median length of hospital stay was 1 d. At a median follow-up of 12 mo, 24 (75%) patients had patent repairs and 26 (81%) were voiding per urethra. Of five men with 30-d complications, four were resolved conservatively (catheter obstruction and ileus). In eight patients, recurrent stenoses were managed with redo robotic reconstruction (in two), endoscopically (in four), or catheterization (in two). Of 13 patients without preexisting SUI, 11 (85%) remained continent at last follow-up. No patients underwent urinary diversion. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic-assisted VUAS reconstruction is a viable and successful management option for refractory anastomotic stenosis following radical prostatectomy. The robotic transabdominal approach demonstrates high patency and continence rates. PATIENT SUMMARY: We studied the outcomes of robotic-assisted repair for vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis. Most patients, after the procedure, were able to void per urethra and preserve existing continence.

Association Between Ejaculatory Dysfunction and Post-Void Dribbling After Urethroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) and post-void dribbling (PVD) after urethroplasty are associated, providing evidence for a common etiology. METHODS: We reviewed a prospectively maintained database for first-time, anterior urethroplasties. One item from the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ) assessed EjD: "How would you rate the strength or force of your ejaculation". One item from the Urethral Stricture Surgery Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (USS-PROM) assessed PVD: "How often have you had slight wetting of your pants after you had finished urinating?". The frequency of symptoms was compared after penile vs. bulbar repairs, and anastomotic versus augmentation bulbar repairs. Associations were assessed with chi-square. RESULTS: A total of 728 men were included. Overall, postoperative EjD and PVD were common; 67% and 66%, respectively. There was a significant association between EjD and PVD for the whole cohort (p<0.0001); this association remained significant after penile repairs (p=0.01), bulbar repairs (p<0.0007), and bulbar anastomotic repairs (p=0.002), but not after bulbar augmentation repairs (p=0.052). EjD and PVD occurred at similar rates after penile and bulbar urethroplasty. The rate of EjD was similar after bulbar augmentation and bulbar anastomotic urethroplasties, but PVD was more common after bulbar augmentation (70% vs. 52%) (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: EjD and PVD after anterior urethroplasty are significantly associated with one another, supporting the theory of a common etiology. High rates after penile repairs argue against a bulbospongiosus muscle damage etiology, and high rates after anastomotic repairs argue against graft sacculation. More work is needed to better understand and prevent symptoms.

Antibiotic Stewardship and Postoperative Infections in Urethroplasties.

OBJECTIVE: To determine surgical site infection and urinary tract infection (UTI) rates in the setting of urethroplasty. Given significant variation in the utilization of antibiotics, there is an opportunity to improve antibiotic stewardship. This study aims to elucidate the rate of both UTI and surgical site infection after urethroplasty on a standardized perioperative antibiotic regimen, and to obtain patient and operative characteristics that may predict infection. METHODS: We prospectively treated 390 patients undergoing urethroplasty at 11 centers with a standardized perioperative antibiotic protocol. Patients had a urine culture or urine analysis within 3 weeks of surgery. After surgery, patients were discharged with an indwelling catheter, removed per usual surgeon practice. All were given nitrofurantoin from discharge until catheter removal. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the correlation between patient characteristics or operative categories with post-operative infection. RESULTS: The rates of postoperative UTI and wound infection within 30 days were 6.7% and 4.1%, respectively. On multivariate analysis of demographics, comorbidities, and stricture characteristics and repair, only preoperative UTI (P = .012), history of cardiovascular disease (P = .015), and performing a membranous urethroplasty (0.018) were significant predictors of a UTI within 30 days postoperatively. Location of repair nor graft use increased the risk of UTI. There were no factors predictive of postoperative wound infection. CONCLUSION: A standardized antibiotic protocol was created to narrow and limit excess antibiotic use. This protocol, with clear definitions of UTI and wound infection, allowed determination of accurate infection rates in urethroplasties. Preoperative UTI, even when properly treated, increases the risk of postoperative UTI.

Development and Validation of A Male Anterior Urethral Stricture Classification System.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a clinical classification system for urethral stricture disease (USD) based on the retrograde urethrogram (RUG), physical exam, and stricture-specific patient history. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three elements were chosen to be included in the classification system: 1) Length of urethral stricture (L); 2) Stricture segment/location (S); 3) Stricture Etiology (E) (LSE classification system). Each element was divided into clinically relevant sub-categories. A three-step development and validation process then ensued, culminating in an in-person Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons (TURNS) meeting, at which the final classification system was unanimously agreed upon by attendees based on interrater reliability data obtained from the classifying of 22 clinical vignettes. A final validation step involved retrospectively classifying cases in the TURNS database to determine if classification influenced surgical technique and was associated with presumed stricture etiology. RESULTS: The final LSE classification system was found to have an interrater reliability of 0.79 (individual components 0.76, 0.70 and 0.93 respectfully). Retrospective classification of the 2162 TURNS strictures revealed the segment (S) to be strongly associated with urethroplasty type (p = 0.0005) and stricture etiology (E) (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: We developed and validated a novel, easy to use, urethral stricture classification system. The system's ability to aid in directing treatments, predict treatment outcomes, and facilitate collaborative research efforts will require further study.

Outcomes and Risk Factors of Revision and Replacement Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantation in Radiated and Nonradiated Cases.

PURPOSE: Risk factors for complications after artificial urinary sphincter surgery include a history of pelvic radiation and prior artificial urinary sphincter complication. The survival of a second artificial urinary sphincter in the setting of prior device complication and radiation is not well described. We report the survival of redo artificial urinary sphincter surgery and identify risk factors for repeat complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional database was queried for redo artificial urinary sphincter surgeries. The primary outcome was median survival of a second and third artificial urinary sphincter in radiated and nonradiated cases. A Cox proportional hazards survival analysis was performed to identify additional patient and surgery risk factors. RESULTS: Median time to explantation of the initial artificial urinary sphincter in radiated (150) and nonradiated (174) cases was 26.4 and 35.6 months, respectively (p=0.043). For a second device median time to explantation was 30.1 and 38.7 months (p=0.034) and for a third device it was 28.5 and 30.6 months (p=0.020), respectively. The 5-year revision-free survival for patients undergoing a second artificial urinary sphincter surgery with no risk factors, history of radiation, history of urethroplasty, and history of radiation and urethroplasty were 83.1%, 72.6%, 63.9% and 46%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients without additional risk factors undergoing second and third artificial urinary sphincter surgeries experience revision-free rates similar to those of their initial artificial urinary sphincter devices. Patients who have been treated with pelvic radiation have earlier artificial urinary sphincter complications. When multiple risk factors exist, revision-free rates decrease significantly.

Multicenter analysis of posterior urethroplasty complexity and outcomes following pelvic fracture urethral injury.

PURPOSE: To analyze outcomes of posterior urethroplasty following pelvic fracture urethral injuries (PFUI) and to determine risk factors for surgical complexity and success. METHODS: Patients who underwent posterior urethroplasty following PFUI were identified in the Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons (TURNS) database. Demographics, injury patterns, management strategies, and prior interventions were evaluated. Risk factors for surgical failure and the impact of ancillary urethral lengthening maneuvers (corporal splitting, pubectomy and supracrural rerouting) were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 436 posterior urethroplasties identified, 122 were following PFUI. 83 (68%) patients were acutely managed with suprapubic tubes, while 39 (32%) underwent early endoscopic realignment. 16 (13%) patients underwent pelvic artery embolization in the acute setting. 116 cases (95%) were completed via a perineal approach, while 6 (5%) were performed via an abdominoperineal approach. The need for one or more ancillary maneuvers to gain urethral length occurred in 4 (36%) patients. Of these, 44 (36%) received corporal splitting, 16 (13%) partial or complete pubectomy, and 2 (2%) supracrural rerouting. Younger patients, those with longer distraction defects, and those with a history of angioembolization were more likely to require ancillary maneuvers. 111 patients (91%) did not require repeat intervention during follow-up. Angioembolization (p = 0.03) and longer distraction defects (p = 0.01) were associated with failure. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior urethroplasty provides excellent success rates for patients following PFUI. Pelvic angioembolization and increased defect length are associated with increased surgical complexity and risk of failure. Surgeons should be prepared to implement ancillary maneuvers when indicated to achieve a tension-free anastomosis.

Trends in Urethral Stricture Disease Etiology and Urethroplasty Technique From a Multi-institutional Surgical Outcomes Research Group.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze contemporary urethroplasty trends and urethral stricture etiologies over a 7-year study period among urologists from a large multi-institutional surgical outcomes group. METHODS: Review of a multi-institutional, prospectively maintained urethroplasty database was performed on 2098 anterior urethroplasties done between 2010 and 2017 by 10 surgeons. Stricture characteristics, including etiology, length, and anatomic location were analyzed and compared to urethroplasty type over the study period using chi-squared analysis to assess for linear trends within the group and by surgeon. RESULTS: Average stricture lengths for bulbar (2.8 ± 1.8 cm), penile (3.6 ± 2.6 cm), and penile-bulbar strictures (8.7 ± 5.0) remained stable. The most common stricture etiology was idiopathic/unknown in all study years (63%). In the bulbar urethra, the group performed significantly (1) fewer excisional repairs (-31%) and more substitutional repairs (+78%); (2) of substitutional repairs, more grafts are being placed dorsally (+95%) vs ventrally (-75%) (3) of the bulbar excisional repairs, more are being performed without transection of the bulbar urethra (+430%); and in the penile urethra (4) the fasciocutaneous flap is in decline (-86%), while single-stage dorsal repairs are increasing (+280%). CONCLUSION: Anterior urethroplasty techniques continue to evolve in the absence of robust clinical data or randomized controlled trials, with a general movement in this cohort toward an initial dorsal approach for most strictures. Inter- and intrasurgeon variability in the surgical management of similar strictures was noted, and the feasibility of any future randomized controlled trials, without apparent surgical equipoise, must be questioned.

Clinical significance of cystoscopic urethral stricture recurrence after anterior urethroplasty: a multi-institution analysis from Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons (TURNS).

PURPOSE: To assess the functional Queryoutcome of patients with cystoscopic recurrence of stricture post-urethroplasty and to evaluate the role of cystoscopy as initial screening tool to predict future failure. METHODS: Cases with cystoscopy data after anterior urethroplasty in a multi-institutional database were retrospectively studied. Based on cystoscopic evaluation, performed within 3-months post-urethroplasty, patients were categorized as small-caliber (SC) stricture recurrence: stricture unable to be passed by standard cystoscope, large-caliber (LC) stricture accommodating a cystoscope, and no recurrence. We assessed the cumulative probability of intervention and the quality of life scores in association with cystoscopic recurrence 1-year post-urethroplasty. Patients with history of hypospadias, perineal urethrostomy, urethral fistula, and meatal pathology were excluded. RESULTS: From a total of 2630 men in our cohort, 1054 patients met the inclusion criteria: normal (n = 740), LC recurrence (n = 178), and SC recurrence (n = 136) based on the first cystoscopic evaluation performed at median 111 days postoperatively. Median follow-up was 350 days (IQR 121-617) after urethroplasty. Cystoscopic recurrence was significantly associated with secondary interventions (2.7%, 6.2%, 33.8% in normal, LC, and SC groups, respectively). Quality of life variables were not statistically significantly different among the three study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with cystoscopic recurrence do not need an intervention after initial urethroplasty. Despite good negative predictive value, cystoscopy alone may be a poor screening test for stricture recurrence defined by patient symptoms and need for secondary interventions.

Urinary and Sexual Function after Perineal Urethrostomy for Urethral Stricture Disease: An Analysis from the TURNS.

PURPOSE: Perineal urethrostomy is a viable option for many complex urethral strictures. However, to our knowledge no comparison with anterior urethroplasty regarding patient reported outcome measures has been published. We compared these groups using a large multi-institution database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of anterior urethroplasty in the TURNS (Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons) database. The anterior urethroplasty cohort was defined by long strictures greater than 6 cm. We compared demographic, clinical, urinary and sexual characteristics using validated patient reported outcome measures between patients treated with long stricture anterior urethroplasty and those who underwent perineal urethrostomy. RESULTS: Of the 131 patients 92 treated with long stricture anterior urethroplasty and 39 treated with perineal urethrostomy met study inclusion criteria. The cumulative incidence of failure at 2 years was 30.2% (95% CI 18.3-47.3) for long stricture anterior urethroplasty and 14.5% (95% CI 4.8-39.1) for perineal urethrostomy (p = 0.09). Compared to baseline metrics, patients who underwent long stricture anterior urethroplasty and perineal urethrostomy had similar improvements in urinary function and stable sexual function after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Patients reported improvement in urinary function after perineal urethrostomy with no deleterious effect on sexual function. These patient reported outcome measures were comparable to those of long stricture anterior urethroplasty. Perineal urethrostomy failure rates were similar to those of long stricture anterior urethroplasty.

Urethral lichen sclerosus under the microscope: a survey of academic pathologists.

INTRODUCTION: Given the poor understanding of the pathophysiology of genital lichen sclerosus (GLS) and a lack of accepted definitive diagnostic criteria, we proposed to survey pathologists regarding their understanding of GLS. We hypothesized that significant disagreement about GLS will exist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All urologists participating in the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons identified genitourinary (GUP) and dermatopathologists (DP) at their respective institutions who were then invited to participate in an online survey regarding their experience with diagnosing GLS, GLS pathophysiology and its relationship to urethral stricture disease. RESULTS: There were 23 (12 DP, 11 GUP) pathologists that completed the survey. The most agreed upon criteria for diagnosis were dermal collagen homogenization (85.7%), loss of the normal rete pattern (33.3%) and atrophic epidermis (28.5%). No pathologists believed GLS had an infectious etiology (19% maybe, 42% unknown) and 19% believed GLS to be an autoimmune disorder (42% maybe, 38% unknown); 19% believed LS to be premalignant, but 52% believed it was associated with cancer; 80% believed that LS could involve the urethra (DP (92%) versus GUP (67%); p = 0.272). Of those diagnosing urethral GLS, 80% of DUP believed that GLS must first involve the glans/prepuce before involving the urethra, while all GUP believed that urethral disease could exist in isolation (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: There was significant disagreement in this specialized cohort of pathologists when diagnosing GLS. A logical first step appears to be improving agreement on how to best describe and classify the disease. This may lead to improve treatments.

Patency and Incontinence Rates After Robotic Bladder Neck Reconstruction for Vesicourethral Anastomotic Stenosis and Recalcitrant Bladder Neck Contractures: The Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To review a robotic approach to recalcitrant bladder neck obstruction and to assess success and incontinence rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with a recalcitrant bladder neck contracture or vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis who underwent robotic bladder neck reconstruction (RBNR) were identified. We reviewed patient demographics, medical history, etiology, previous endoscopic management, cystoscopic and symptomatic outcomes, urinary continence, and complications. Stricture success was anatomic and functional based upon atraumatic passage of a 17 Fr flexible cystoscope or uroflowmetry rate >15 ml/s. Incontinence was defined as the use of >1 pad per day or procedures for incontinence. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2017, 12 patients were identified who met study criteria and underwent RBNR. Etiology of obstruction was endoscopic prostate procedure in 7 and radical prostatectomy in 5. The mean operative time was 216 minutes (range 120-390 minutes), with a mean estimated blood loss of 85 cc (range 5-200 cc). Median length of stay was 1 day (range 1-5 days). Three of 12 patients had recurrence of obstruction for a 75% success rate. Additionally, 82% of patients without preoperative incontinence were continent with a median follow-up of 13.5 months (range 5-30 months). There was 1 Clavien IIIb complication of osteitis pubis and pubovesical fistula that required vesicopubic fistula repair with pubic bone debridement. CONCLUSION: RBNR is a viable surgical option with high patency rates and favorable continence outcomes. This is in contrast to perineal reconstruction, which has high incontinence rates. If future incontinence procedures are needed, outcomes may be improved given lack of previous perineal dissection.