Do previous urethral endoscopic procedures and preoperative self-dilatation increase the risk of stricture recurrence after urethroplasty?

Treatment of strictures of the male anterior urethra: Bulbar urethra

BACKGROUND

Bulbar urethral strictures are the most frequently encountered. Their management is standardized and needs to be applied to improve results.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted from December 2020 to December 2023, combined with a summary of recommendations from the American, Canadian, European, and French urological associations. References from these recommendations were also used.

RESULTS

Endoscopic treatment is only associated with good results in the case of initial treatment of a short stricture (<2cm). Repeat treatment is not recommended. In all other cases, urethroplasty should be performed. The main techniques, including excision and primary anastomosis (EPA), augmentation and stage urethroplasty, are detailed in this chapter. EPA with or without transection is associated with over 90% success rate for short stenoses. Penile and sexual complications are more frequent with transection of the corpus spongiosum. Augmentation urethroplasty is associated with a similar success rate. The impact of augmentation position on patency has not yet been demonstrated. In the most complicated cases, a stage urethroplasty is required, with a success rate of 33.3-94.6%. Perineal urethrostomy is still a valid option in refractory cases.

CONCLUSION

This review should provide a better understanding of the different surgical treatments available, in order to propose the best management for each patient.

Inflammation indexes and machine-learning algorithm in predicting urethroplasty success

PURPOSE

To assess the predictive capability of hematological inflammatory markers for urethral stricture recurrence after primary urethroplasty and to compare traditional statistical methods with a machine-learning-based artificial intelligence algorithm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred eighty-seven patients who underwent primary urethroplasty were scanned. Ages, smoking status, comorbidities, hematological inflammatory parameters (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios, platelet-lymphocyte ratios [PLR], systemic immune-inflammation indexes [SII], and pan-immune-inflammation values [PIV]), stricture characteristics, history of previous direct-visual internal urethrotomy, urethroplasty techniques, and grafts/flaps placements were collected. Patients were followed up for one year for recurrence and grouped accordingly. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to create a predictive model. Additionally, a machine-learning-based logistic regression analysis was implemented to compare predictive performances. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Comparative analysis between the groups revealed statistically significant differences in stricture length (p=0.003), localization (p=0.027), lymphocyte counts (p=0.008), PLR (p=0.003), SII (p=0.003), and PIV (p=0.001). In multivariate analysis, stricture length (odds ratio [OR] 1.230, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.142-1.539, p<0.0001) and PIV (OR 1.002, 95% CI 1.000-1.003, p=0.039) were identified as significant predictors of recurrence. Classical logistic regression model exhibited a sensitivity of 0.76, specificity of 0.43 with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.65. However, the machine-learning algorithm outperformed traditional methods achieving a sensitivity of 0.80, specificity of 0.76 with a higher AUC of 0.82.

CONCLUSIONS

PIV and machine-learning algorithms shows promise on predicting urethroplasty outcomes, potentially leading to develop possible nomograms. Evolving machine-learning algorithms will contribute to more personalized and accurate approaches in managing urethral stricture.

Patient reported outcomes of intermittent self-dilatation after direct vision internal urethrotomy

PURPOSE

Long-term results on quality of life (QoL) as well as clinical outcomes of intermittent self-dilatation (ISD) of the urethra after direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) are scarce. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate patient reported outcomes (PROs) on voiding symptoms and QoL in a large cohort of urethral stricture patients performing ISD.

METHODS

We identified a total of 121 patients who performed ISD following DVIU between 2008 and 2013. Baseline assessment was conducted for each patient before ISD was started. Follow-up visits were scheduled in 6-month intervals. Each assessment included the following questionnaires: International prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS quality of life index (IPSS-QoL), patient global impression of severity (PGI-S), and patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I). Additional parameters were maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax ), postvoid residual urine, rate of complications, and stricture recurrence. Linear mixed models were used to examine the change over the course of the follow-up visits to the baseline.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 58 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 43-70). The median follow-up was 17 months (IQR: 7-30). Mean change from baseline IPSS was -6.1, -5.9, -4.2, and -4.8 points at 6, 24, 36, and 48 months. Mean change from baseline IPSS-QoL was -1.3, -1.4, -1.6, and -1.8 points, respectively. Mean PGI-I was 1.7 points at 6, 1.9 points at 24, 1.9 points at 36, and 2.2 points at 48 months after ISD initiation. Mean change of Qmax ranged from 1.7 at 6 to 2.2 mL/s at 48 months. The median complication rate was 3.3% per 6-month ISD interval. Overall, 11 patients developed stricture recurrence (9%).

CONCLUSION

ISD after DVIU had no negative impact on patients' QoL (IPSS-QoL, PGI-I, PGI-S). Urodynamic parameters remained stable for up to 48 months with low complications and an acceptable stricture recurrence rate.

Which are the commonest sites and characteristics of post- transurethral prostate surgery (TPS) strictures in a high-volume reconstructive center?

BACKGROUND

Urethral stricture is a well-known complication after transurethral prostate surgery (TPS) and it is usually considered an easy-to-treat condition. We aimed to examine characteristics of post-TPS urethral stricture cases that were referred for urethroplasty at our tertiary center.

METHODS

We identified 201 patients with TPS-induced stricture treated with urethroplasty at our institution from 2017-2021. First, stricture length and location were evaluated during preoperative assessment. Second, multiple sets of multivariable logistic regression (MLR) analyses were run to assess whether clinical variables were associated with the location of the stricture.

RESULTS

Median stricture length was 5 cm (4-7). 141 (70.1%) patients received previous no-invasive treatments (dilatation and/or DVIU). Proximal bulbar urethra was the commonest site for stricture, while panurethral stricture (≥10cm) was diagnosed in 41 (20.4%) patients. Lichen sclerosus was more common in patients with penile stricture location, compared to patients with other involved segments (26% vs 19%, p=0.03), and it was the only predictor of penile and mid bulbar urethra location at MLR. Surgical approaches were augmented urethroplasty in 94% of patients, especially for patients with previous treatment including urethroplasty (95.8% vs 82.5% for naïve, p=0.004). Dorsal onlay was the preferred approach for bulbar (53.4%) and penile urethra (90.7%), while ventral onlay (38.2%) and double face augmentation (20.6%) were the preferred approach in membranous strictures.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients that were referred for TPS-induced stricture attempted previous non-invasive managements. Referred TPS-induced urethral stricture were long and frequently involving multiple segments of urethra. Augmentation urethroplasty was our preferred surgical approach due to the characteristics and complexity of these strictures. The presence of lichen may increase the risk of post-TPS stricture in specific segment of urethra, namely the penile and mid-bulbar urethra.