When to remove the urethral catheter after endoscopic realignment of traumatic disruption of the posterior urethra?

OBJECTIVE

To detect the optimal time for urethral stent removal after endoscopic urethral realignment and its effect on the incidence of development of urethral stricture.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighteen patients underwent endoscopic urethral realignment after traumatic disruption of the posterior urethra. Post-operative urethroscopy was done using the flexible cystoscope to assess progress of urethral healing. The urethral Foley catheter that served as a stent and for urine drainage was removed only when complete mucosal healing was observed by flexible urethroscopy. There was a post-operative follow-up period of 12-36months. Uroflowmetry was performed at the end of the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Endoscopy 6weeks after realignment showed 50-75% mucosal epithelialization at the site of urethral disruption in all patients. Epithelialization was complete at 9weeks in 15/18 patients (83%) and at 12weeks in the remaining 3 patients (17%). One patient (5.6%) developed a mild symptomatic stricture 5months post stent removal that was successfully treated by a single session of visual urethrotomy. All 18 patients had normal uroflowmetry readings at 12-36months after realignment.

CONCLUSIONS

Urethral stenting should be continued till mucosal healing at the site of urethral disruption became complete. Removal of the stent at this optimal time decreases the incidence of post-operative urethral stricture. Flexible urethroscopy was a safe procedure for post-operative follow-up of endoscopic urethral realignment to assess the progress and completion of mucosal healing at the site of realignment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE