334 Intraoperative management algorithm for urethral injury at the time of PP placement

Urethral instillation of chlorhexidine gel is an effective method of sterilisation

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of preoperative urethral sterilisation with chlorhexidine gel in rendering the urethra as sterile as the skin of the genital area, with the skin sterilised as per the International Society for Sexual Medicine guidelines for penile prosthesis implantation. Patients and methods: A total of 111 male patients undergoing sterile andrological surgical procedures were divided into a control group (N = 61) and a chlorhexidine gel group (N = 50). Patients in the chlorhexidine group received urethral instillation with 6 mL of chlorhexidine preoperatively and on table. Patients from both groups received on-table skin preparation using povidone iodine and chlorhexidine povidone iodine. At the end of surgery, swabs were obtained from urethra and the penile skin. Skin and urethral swabs were compared for bacterial colonisation by culture and sensitivity. Results: Of the 111 patients, 16 had urethral colonisation and 10 had skin contamination, and they were all in the control group. The most common organism detected in both the urethral and skin samples was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus. Urethral colonisation was significantly greater in the control group compared to the chlorhexidine group, at 16/61 vs 0/50 (P = 0.001). Similarly, skin colonisation was significantly greater in the control group compared to the chlorhexidine group, at 10/61 vs 0/50, (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Chlorhexidine gel is a powerful sterilising agent that will render the urethra sterile.

Urethral Injury and the Penile Prosthesis

INTRODUCTION

The relative infrequency of urethral injuries during penile prosthesis implantation has caused the event to be understudied relative to the morbidity and cost associated with their management.

AIM

To draw attention to both acute intraoperative and delayed urethral injuries via cylinder erosion by compiling and evaluating the available literature on their cause, diagnosis, and management.

METHODS

A literature review was performed through PubMed from 1985 to 2018 regarding urethral injuries in the setting of penile prosthesis implantation. Comorbidities and anatomic factors that predispose a patient to a urethral injury were also queried.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The goal is to identify at-risk populations and assess options for managing distal, mid-pendulous, and proximal acute urethral injuries that occur in the setting of penile prosthesis implantation. We also examine strategies to manage prosthesis erosion into the urethra.

RESULTS

Although urethral injuries are rare, certain patient populations are at higher risk for the event. Injuries at various locations along the urethra present unique challenging and morbid clinical scenarios. However, there are a variety of management options available that allow a patient to ultimately void normally and have a successfully implanted penile prosthesis.

CONCLUSION

Overall, penile prostheses offer many patients an improved sexual quality of life. In the setting of prosthesis implantation both acute and delayed urethral injuries are rare, but their associated morbidity can undercut the benefits of the device. Our understanding of these injuries has matured, and we now possess management strategies that can mitigate the morbidity and frustration that accompany this complication. Carlos EC, Sexton SJ, Lentz AC. Urethral injury and the penile prosthesis. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:360-368.