Surgical technique for antegrade dissection of the preputial vascular pedicle during hypospadias repair.

OBJECTIVE

Both layers of the prepuce can be used as vascularized flaps in hypospadias repair. The aim of this communication is to describe an antegrade approach to the harvesting of the vascular pedicle.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

The vascular pedicle is isolated at the level of the penopubic junction where it is most robust. Dissection then proceeds distally towards the prepuce fanning laterally.

RESULTS

Of 306 boys presenting for hypospadias repair in 2002-2008, this approach was utilized in 235 (77%). The vascularized flap was used as 1) a classic single or double faced onlay flap in 95, 2) a vascularized layer to cover a tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in 68, 3) a tube-onlay in 39, 4) a tubularized urethroplasty in 23, 5) for ventral skin coverage alone in 7, and 6) for a planned first stage repair in 3. Age at repair averaged 12 months (range 2-160) and follow up 36 months (range 2-68).

CONCLUSIONS

Antegrade dissection of the vascular pedicle is a simple, expeditious and reliable way of isolating the prepuce on its blood supply. The versatility of the resulting flaps allows the repair to be adapted to the individual anatomic conditions as opposed to one type of repair being used for all variants.