Aetiology and treatment of symptomatic idiopathic urethral strictures in children

Presentation, treatment and outcomes of pediatric anterior urethral strictures: 28 years' experience from a referral center

BACKGROUND

Pediatric urethral strictures are an uncommon entity, with the anterior urethra being the most common affected location, similar to adults. The, literature on outcomes in these strictures is limited, especially in the non-traumatic group, as most of the studies have included hypospadias related "neourethral" strictures and posterior strictures, thereby making interpretation difficult. It is for these reasons we decided to search our database to identify the different surgical procedures used and analyze the outcomes of interventions in these children and adolescents with anterior urethral strictures.

OBJECTIVE

To report the treatment strategies and outcomes in a series of 119 pediatric anterior urethral strictures, identified in a 28-year period in a high-volume tertiary center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective case-note review of all cases of pediatric anterior urethral strictures was done. Data on the clinical presentation including age at presentation, characteristics of strictures identified, primary intervention and additional secondary procedures and outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

We identified 119 boys with anterior urethral strictures with commonest location being the bulbar urethra (60.5%). Sixty patients (50.4%) in this cohort underwent minimally invasive intervention in the form of dilatation or direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) with the rest undergoing open intervention. The primary success rate was 87.1% (101/116) at a median follow-up of 29 (IQR 21-38) months. Idiopathic urethral stricture and iatrogenic strictures had better success rate of 92.5% and 82.1% than traumatic strictures (78.9%) and it was lowest for those traumatic strictures that were treated with DVIU (66.7%). Multifocal strictures had comparatively poorer outcomes (62.5%) compared with penile or bulbar strictures, with worst outcomes (44.4%) in those treated with substitution urethroplasty. Length >1 cm, multifocality and treatment with substitution urethroplasty were significantly associated with recurrence. Three boys with strictures associated with anorectal malformations were a particularly difficult group and needed multiple intervention and had poor outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Based on our study, we recommend a minimally invasive approach for short segment, bulbar strictures, especially of idiopathic etiology. For other locations and longer strictures, we recommend urethroplasty. Caution must be exercised to avoid underestimation of the actual pathology of the stricture. Caretakers of children with complete bulbar level blockage associated with anorectal malformations undergoing urethroplasty should be explained about the need for multiple interventions and possibility of poor voiding outcomes.

Anterior Urethral Strictures in Children: Disease Etiology and Comparative Effectiveness of Endoscopic Treatment vs. Open Surgical Reconstruction

Pediatric anterior urethral strictures are rare and recommendations regarding treatment strategies derive from small monocentric case series. In 2014, a collaborative effort of the Société Internationale d'Urologie and the International Consultation on Urological Diseases drafted the first systematic and evidence-based guideline for diagnosis and treatment of urethral strictures in children. Against this backdrop, we performed an updated literature review to provide a comprehensive summary of the available evidence and contemporary outcomes with a focus on comparative effectiveness of endoscopic treatment (dilation or urethrotomy) vs. open surgical reconstruction. Overall, 22 articles reporting on children with anterior urethral strictures were included into the review. Most strictures were iatrogenic (48%) and traumatic (34%), whereas congenital (13%), inflammatory (4%), or postinfectious strictures (1%) were rather rare. The cumulative success rate of endoscopic treatment and urethroplasty was 46% (range: 21-75; N = 334) and 84% (range: 25-100; N = 347), respectively. After stratifying patients according to urethroplasty technique, success rates were 82% (range: 25-100; N = 206) for excision and primary anastomosis, 94% (range: 75-100; N = 40) for graft augmentation, 97% (range: 87-100; N = 30) for flap urethroplasty, and 70% (one study; N = 20) for pull-through urethroplasty. In conclusion, endoscopic approaches are rather ineffective in the long-term and open surgical reconstruction via urethroplasty should be preferred to avoid multiple, repetitive interventions. Future research may involve multi-institutional, collaborative, and prospective studies, incorporating well-defined outcome criteria and assessing objective surgical endpoints as well as patient-reported functional outcomes.

Cobb's collar occurring in two brothers in a family: A rare entity revisited

Most urethral strictures arise from iatrogenic, traumatic, or inflammatory causes. We report the familial occurrence of a congenital bulbar urethral stricture in two brothers. Retrograde and voiding cystourethrography was performed. A Cobb's collar was diagnosed after radiological and endoscopic evaluation in both cases and was successfully managed with urethroplasty. Cobb's collar is a rarely recognized cause of a membranous stricture of bulbar urethra that can lead to several urinary problems. In cases of adolescent and young adults presenting with symptoms of progressive urinary obstruction and enuresis with or without urinary tract infection, Cobb's collar can be seen as a minor constriction in the bulbar urethra, but is not frequently symptomatic, and the familial occurrence of such a stricture is even rarer.

Cobb's collar: a rare cause of urinary retention

Cobb's collar is a membranous stricture of the bulbar urethra, often misdiagnosed, potentially leading to acute urinary retention, upper urinary tract dilations, enuresis, infectious diseases, poor streaming and haematuria. A 14-year-old boy with a history of previous hospitalisations came to our attention. A Cobb's collar was diagnosed and successfully managed with a videoendoscopic one-step approach. Although extremely uncommon, paediatric urologists must be aware of this congenital anomaly. A correct and timely diagnosis and endoscopic management may affect positively the clinical onset of these patients avoiding major urethral surgery and preserving renal and bladder function.

Urethral duplication: Experience of four cases

AIM

Our experience of 4 cases of urethral duplication is reported here.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review.

RESULTS

The age at presentation varied from newborn to 10 years. The clinical presentation ranged from prepubic sinus to diphallus urethra. There were 2 each incomplete duplication with only external openings (Type IA) and complete duplication of Effmann Type IIA2. All underwent complete excision of accessory urethra and corrections of associated anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

Urethral duplications have a varied presentation. At follow up, all are asymptomatic with good cosmetic result.