Quality assessment of hypospadias repair with emphasis on techniques used and experience of pediatric urologic surgeons.

OBJECTIVES

To assess outcomes in hypospadias repair at our institution, as compared with the literature, with repair technique and surgeon considered as risk factors.

METHODS

The results of 299 primary hypospadias corrections were analyzed. All procedures were performed by three experienced pediatric urologists. Mean patient age at operation was 16.3 months. Follow-up was between 6 months and 5.5 years. Distal hypospadias repair was carried out in 242 patients, with tubularized incised plate reconstruction in 100 patients, advancement in 128, and the Mathieu technique in 14.

RESULTS

During follow-up, complications occurred overall in 93 patients (31%). For distal hypospadias complications occurred in 59 patients (24%). The most common findings for distal hypospadias were urethral fistulas (14.4%). The complication rate depended on the severity of the anomaly (0 glanular, 28% pericoronal, and 63% proximal) and the chosen technique (16% advancement technique versus 60% tubular techniques). We found statistically significant differences in complication rates between operating surgeons.

CONCLUSIONS

Complications after hypospadias surgery are frequent. They are multifactorial and depend mainly on the type of the anomaly, the chosen technique, and the experience of the surgeon. More studies are needed to obtain an internationally accepted quality indicator for the outcome of hypospadias repair.