Evaluation of erectile function after anastomotic vs substitutional urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate erectile function (EF) after anastomotic (AU) vs substitutional urethroplasty (SU) for bulbar urethral stricture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective comparative non-randomised clinical study conducted in the Department of Urology, Benha University Hospital, between September 2015 and September 2018, involving 34 male patients with urethral stricture. Preoperatively, all the patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 (EF Domain) to establish baseline sexual function. AU was performed in 21 patients and SU in 13. The IIEF-15 (EF Domain) was administered again at 3- and 6-months postoperatively and compared to the preoperative results. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were included in the study, 21 in the AU group with a stricture length of ≤3 cm, and 13 in the SU group with a stricture length of >3 cm. All patients were sexually active preoperatively. In the AU group, seven patients developed erectile dysfunction (ED) at 3-months postoperatively, with four of them improving during the subsequent 3 months, but three had persistent ED at 6-months postoperatively. In the SU group, two patients developed ED at 3-months postoperatively and they improved during the subsequent 3 months. In the AU group, the mean IIEF-15 (EF Domain) score was 27.6 preoperatively, which decreased to 25.6 at 6-months postoperatively; however, this was statistically insignificant (P = 0.10). While in the SU group, the mean IIEF-15 (EF Domain) score was the same before and at 6 months after SU at 27.2 (P = 1.0). CONCLUSION: At 6-months postoperatively, there was no statistically significant impact of urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture on erectile function.Abbreviations: AU: anastomotic urethroplasty; ED: erectile dysfunction; EF: erectile function; IIEF: International Index of Erectile Function; SU: substitutional urethroplasty.

Pedicled preputial island flap for double functions in hypospadias surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To use the prepuce for double functions one as a second layer for the neourethra to decrease the incidence of urethrocutaneous fistula and the second as a skin covering for the ventral aspect of the penis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2013 to December 2016, 37 cases of hypospadias with mild to moderate chordee were included in this study. The cases with ventral penile skin defect were managed by tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU) using pedicled preputial flap. Recurrent cases, cases with severe chordee which necessitated division of the urethral plate, and cases with penoscrotal hypospadias were excluded from this study. RESULTS: Thirty-seven cases of hypospadias aged 9-60 months with a mean age of 24.8 months were included in this study. Coronal (n= 9 cases; 24.3%), distal penile (n=11; 29.9%), and midpenile hypospadias (n= 17; 45.9%) were detected in respective number of patients. Postoperative complications consisted of external meatal stenosis (n=2; 8.1%), and one case with urethrocutaneous fistula. Skin necrosis was not reported in this study. Follow-up visits were performed at 1, 3 and 6 months which showed good cosmetic appearance that was accepted by their parents. CONCLUSION: This technique was beneficial in decreasing the rate of skin necrosis, as it keeps the blood supply to the preputial skin intact, and decreases the incidence of urethrocutaneous fistula.

A Critical Analysis of Stented and Unstented Tubularized Incised Plate Urethroplasty Through a Prospective Randomized Study and Assessment of Factors Influencing the Functional and Cosmetic Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare, functionally and aesthetically, stented and unstented tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU). In addition, predictors of repair success were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred ten children with distal hypospadias were included in this study. The length and width of the urethral plate (UP) and transverse glans diameter (TGD) were measured. Patients were randomized into two groups: stented and unstented TIPU. Postoperative assessment of pain was done using Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale, and cosmetic outcome was evaluated using hypospadias objective scoring evaluation. Uroflow was assessed at 6 months in toilet-trained boys. Complications were graded by the Clavien classification system. RESULTS: In 93 cases, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability score, hospital stay, and dressing time were in favor of the unstented group, whereas hypospadias objective scoring evaluation score and uroflow parameters were comparable. TGD and UP width varied significantly between successful and failed cases. Cutoff values of 13.5 mm and 8.5 mm for TGD and UP width, respectively, are required for successful outcome. Acute urinary retention was 12.8% after unstented repair. Detrusor spasm was 47.8% after stented and 8.5% after unstented repair. In both groups, urethrocutaneous fistula of 5.4%, glanular dehiscence of 1.1%, and meatal stenosis of 5.4% were found in cases with small TGD and narrow UP. CONCLUSION: Unstented TIPU evades the associated drawbacks of the stent along with lower postoperative pain, hospital stay, and dressing time. Even without a postoperative stent, the complication rate in infants with distal hypospadias is low, and short-term functional and aesthetic outcomes were not compromised.

High single scrotal-incision orchidopexy as the standard technique in infants aged 6-24 months.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the effectiveness of high single scrotal-incision orchidopexy (HSSIO) for palpable undescended testis (PUDT) in infants aged 6-24 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 2012 to July 2014, 46 age range-restricted (6-24 months) infants with 57 PUDT underwent HSSIO after obtaining written consent from their parents. The exclusion criteria were ectopic, retractile testes and recurrent cases. All infants were examined before surgery in the outpatient department and after anaesthesia induction immediately before surgery. All infants had general anaesthesia with a caudal block. The operative time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and follow-up of the infants at 0.5, 3 and 6 months were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: The mean (SD; range) operative time was 23.45 (3.28; 18-29) min. A hernia sac was found in 39 (68.4%) UDTs. For postoperative complications, only one infant developed a scrotal haematoma that was managed conservatively. The procedure was successful in 56/57 PUDT (98%). An auxiliary procedure was needed in one case, to obtain more length of the cord by extension of the incision to the external ring. CONCLUSION: HSSIO is a safe and feasible technique, with many benefits, and as such should be considered as the standard technique for orchidopexy in infants aged 6-24 months.