Flexible cystourethroscopy in the follow-up of posturethroplasty patients and characterisation of recurrences.
BACKGROUND
Urethral strictures can be difficult to diagnose at an early stage because the urinary flow rate does not diminish until the urethral calibre is ≤3mm. In the past, posturethral surgery follow-up has relied upon flow rates and contrast imaging.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of flexible urethroscopy in the follow-up of patients undergoing urethroplasty.


METHODS
Prospective flexible urethroscopy follow-up of 144 male patients who underwent urethroplasty by a single surgeon over a 10-yr period at a tertiary referral centre.


METHODS
Flexible urethroscopy at 3, 6, and 12 mo postoperatively, and annually thereafter.


METHODS
Type of recurrence, based on urethroscopy findings, and further interventions were measured. Actuarial analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and a log-rank test.


CONCLUSIONS
All 144 patients underwent flexible urethroscopy follow-up over a median postoperative follow-up of 22 mo (range: 1-96 mo). No further intervention was required for 117 patients (81.25%); 27 (18.75%) developed recurrences that required further treatment. Recurrences included diaphragms (13 patients) or significant restenosis (14 patients). Diaphragms were treated by urethrotomy, gentle dilatation, or a short course of intermittent self-dilatation. Restenosis required repeated simple procedures or surgical revision. Most recurrences (26 of 27, 96%) were detected within the first year. Urinary peak flow-rate data were available for 11 of 27 of these recurrences; 7 patients had flow rates >15ml/s. Anastomotic procedures had greater success than augmentation urethroplasty (p=0.0136); there was no significant difference in outcomes between redo and non-redo surgery (p=0.2093) CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic follow-up of patients after urethroplasty enables earlier identification and treatment of recurrences compared to the use of urinary flow rates alone. It also enables the identification of two different morphologic recurrence patterns that require different types of intervention.


RESULTS
Endoscopy detects most stricture recurrences within 1 yr after urethroplasty and is more sensitive than using urinary flow rates alone.
Department of Urology, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle, Sri Lanka.
Satish K
SK
Goonesinghe
Department of Urology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Christopher J
CJ
Hillary
Western NSW Local Health District, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Timothy R
TR
Nicholson
Department of Urology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Nadir I
NI
Osman
Department of Urology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: c.r.chapple@sheffield.ac.uk.
Christopher R
CR
Chapple
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004106:Dilatation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
Urethra; Urethral stricture; Urethroplasty; Urethroscopy