title: Healing of the urethral plate after deep incision: does catheterization change the course of this process?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to evaluate the sequence of healing process as well as possible effects of stent placement on the healing process after deep urethral plate incision.
  
  
  METHODS
  A deep urethral plate incision was done at the 12 o'clock position. After that, in the first group (n = 14) the anterior urethra was stented with a silicon catheter. Animals in the second group (n = 14) underwent the same incision procedure, however no stent was placed after this operation. All animals in both groups were again divided into three groups with respect to the follow-up period (7-14 and 21 days). Partial penectomy was performed in all subgroups and histopathologic evaluation performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first group after 7 days, limited neovascularization and granulation tissue formation could be noted far away from the epithelial lumen. Evaluation of these specimens during the long-term follow-up (21 days) demonstrated an almost completely healed tissue with a remarkable neovascularization and well-developed granulation tissue. In the second group during 14-21 days, evaluation progression of tissue healing along with increasing vessel formation and re-epithelialization were demonstrated. Although the incision edges did show evident approximation, no sign of fibrosis could be demonstrated in these specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We may say that tissue healing with a desired and complete re-epithelialization could be achieved without inserting a catheter. Prevention of re-approximation along with the limited urinary extravasations to the subepithelial area might be responsible for tissue protection that will limit the long-term aforementioned adverse effects of the procedure.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Urology, Sisli Etfal Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. khorasanli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kaya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horasanli
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perk
authors.forename: Tahsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yesildere
authors.forename: Eyup
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miroglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D008297:Male; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing