title: Reconstruction of Obliterated Vesicourethral Junction: Use of the Bulbar Urethra as a Continent Valve.
abstract: Reconstruction of the obliterated vesicourethral junction is both complex and difficult. Here, we report an innovative method using a mobilized bulbar urethra as a continent valve. Three patients with major problems at the vesicourethral junction underwent continent valve reconstruction. In cases 1 and 2, in which there were problems at the anastomosing site after radical prostatectomy, the bladder wall was closed, wedge resection of the midline pubic bone was performed, and a fully mobilized bulbar urethra was implanted submucosally into the anterior bladder wall. In case 2, augmentation cystoplasty using an ileal segment was required due to the small capacity of the bladder. In case 3, in which there was posterior urethra disruption associated with pelvic fracture, the bulbar urethra was implanted into the bladder wall in the same manner as in cases 1 and 2 without pubectomy. The postoperative follow-up periods were 48, 36, and 12 months, respectively. In all patients, urinary management was achieved by self-catheterization postoperatively, and the patients were satisfied with their status. This newly devised continent valve construction using a bulbar urethra is effective for reconstruction of the obliterated vesicourethral junction, which markedly improves patients' quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
keywords: bulbar urethra; continent valve; continent vesicostomy; post-prostatectomy stricture; vesicourethral junction stricture