title: Assessment of the short-term functional outcome after urethroplasty: a prospective analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the short-term functional outcomes on urinary symptoms, erectile function, urinary continence and patient's satisfaction after urethroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective analysis was done in 21 patients who underwent urethroplasty. An assessment of the urinary flow, urinary symptoms (International Prostate Symptoms Score <IPSS>), erectile function (International Index of Erectile Function-5 <IIEF-5>) and urinary continence International Consultation Committee on Incontinence Questionnaire male Short Form <ICI-Q-SF>) was done before urethroplasty and 6 weeks and 6 months after urethroplasty. Patients were also asked to score their satisfaction with the urethroplasty after 6 weeks and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean patient's age was 48 years range: 26-80 years). Mean stricture length was 4.2 cm (range: 1-12 cm). Three patients suffered a stricture recurrence. Mean maximum urinary flow increased from 5.83 mL/s to 24.92 mL/s (p < 0.001). Mean IPSS preoperative, 6 weeks and 6 months postoperative was respectively 15.86, 4.60 and 6.41(p < 0.001). The mean IIEF-5 score preoperative, 6 weeks and 6 months postoperative was respectively 15, 12.13 and 11.62 (not significant). The mean ICI-Q-SF score preoperative, 6 weeks and 6 months postoperative was respectively 10.47, 8.33 (p = 0.04) and 9.47 (p = 0.31). Patient's satisfaction 6 weeks and 6 months postoperative was respectively 17.14/20 and 17.12/20.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urethroplasty leads to a significant improvement in urinary flow and IPSS and urinary continence is tending to improve. Although not significant, erectile function was slightly diminished after urethroplasty. Functional outcome should be assessed when urethroplasty is performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent and University of Ghent, Belgium. nicolaas.lumen@uzgent.be
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lumen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spiers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oosterlinck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000601:surgery*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000601:surgery*