Buccal mucosa urethroplasty in the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures.
OBJECTIVE
To report our 8-year experience with buccal mucosa onlay urethroplasty with the dorsal approach in the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures. The buccal mucosal graft is widely used as an effective option for urethral reconstruction.


METHODS
Since June 1994, we have treated 65 patients with bulbar urethral strictures with buccal mucosa urethroplasty. A free graft of buccal mucosa was used as a ventral onlay in 9 patients and as a dorsal onlay in the remaining 56 patients. The bulbar urethra was isolated from the corpora. Endoscopic urethrotomy was performed dorsally. The graft was obtained from the lower lip and sutured to the urethra and corpora cavernosa. A transurethral grooved catheter and suprapubic drainage was maintained for 7 and 14 days, respectively.


RESULTS
The median follow-up was 41 months (range 6 to 94). The overall recurrence rate was 3% (2 of 65). One recurrence occurred in a ventral onlay patient and one in a dorsal onlay patient. Minor complications occurred in 9 patients (14%).


CONCLUSIONS
Buccal mucosa dorsal onlay urethroplasty is an excellent option for the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures.
Vincenzo Pansadoro Foundation, Rome, Italy.
Vito
V
Pansadoro
Paolo
P
Emiliozzi
Marco
M
Gaffi
Paolo
P
Scarpone
F
F
DePaula
M
M
Pizzo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014521:Urethra / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications