Surgical treatment and prevention of recurrence of urethral calculi associated with hairballs after urethroplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate technical aspects and outcome of preventing urethrocutaneous fistula and calculi recurrence in surgical treatment of urethral calculi associated with hairballs after urethroplasty.


METHODS
Sixteen patients who had urethral calculi associated with hairballs after urethroplasty underwent urethrolithotomy and trimming and epilation of the neourethra. While operating, we made a staggered incision of the skin and urethra, carefully sutured the urethral incision, and covered it by well-vascularized tissue. A tube-in-tube stent method was performed on the latter 12 patients for better drainage of the exudates that accumulated in the urethra.


RESULTS
All calculi were successfully removed. Surgical site infection occurred in the last one of the former 4 patients and resulted in an urethrocutaneous fistula. There were no other complications. All patients were followed up for 2-7 years; no urethral stenosis or recurrence of calculi was observed, and remarkable reduction of urethral hair was obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
Urethrolithotomy and trimming and epilation of the neourethra seem to be appropriate treatments for urethral calculi associated with hairballs after urethroplasty. Full attention should be paid to fistula prevention.
Hypospadias Treatment Center, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Linhai
L
Xie
Senkai
S
Li
Qiang
Q
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001630:Bezoars / Q000209:etiology; D005402:Fistula / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult