Internal urethrotomy for recurrence after perineal anastomotic urethroplasty for posttraumatic pediatric posterior urethral stricture: could it be sufficient?

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term outcome of visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) after perineal anastomotic urethroplasty for posttraumatic pediatric posterior urethral strictures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data of 22 boys who had undergone internal urethrotomy for recurrent stricture after perineal anastomotic urethroplasty for posttraumatic posterior urethral strictures between 1998 and 2008 were analyzed retrospectively regarding patient age, interval between anastomotic urethroplasty and internal urethrotomy, stricture length, surgical technique, and postoperative complications. VIU was performed in patients in whom a guidewire could be passed beyond the stricture segment. The eventual surgical success was defined as asymptomatic voiding without clinical evidence of residual stricture (good flow rate and absence of residual urine).

RESULTS

The mean (range) age of patients was 12.2 (3-17) years. All patients had a road traffic accident with associated pelvic fracture. The perineal approach for anastomotic urethroplasty was adopted in all. The estimated stricture length was 0.5 cm or less in 15 patients and was 0.5 to 1 cm in 7 patients. The interval between anastomotic urethroplasty and internal urethrotomy was early-after 12 weeks or less-in 13 children or late-beyond 12 weeks-in the remaining 9. The overall mean interval was 18 (5-63) weeks. In all patients, a guidewire could be passed through the strictured area. One VIU was performed in 17 patients, 2 VIU in 3 patients, while 3 VIU were performed in 2 patients. There was no extravasation reported. The mean follow-up duration was 98 (38-210) months. VIU was successful in 20 of 22 (90%) patients. All patients voided with no symptoms and were continent.

CONCLUSIONS

VIU offers high success rate and can be sufficient in recurrent strictures of less than 1 cm length after anastomotic urethroplasty in children whenever a guidewire can be passed through the stricture area.