Steven J. Hudak

Poor Quality of Life in Patients with Urethral Stricture Treated with Intermittent Self-Dilation

PURPOSE We assessed patient perceptions of regular intermittent self-dilation in men with urethral stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS We constructed and distributed a visual analog questionnaire to evaluate intermittent self-dilation via catheterization by men referred for urethral stricture management at a total of 4 institutions. Items assessed included patient duration, frequency, difficulty and pain associated with intermittent self-dilation as well as interference of intermittent self-dilation with daily activity. The primary outcome was patient perceived quality of life. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess factors that affected this outcome. RESULTS Included in the study were 85 patients with a median age of 68 years, a median of 3.0 years on intermittent self-dilation and a median frequency of 1 dilation per day. On a 1 to 10 scale the median intermittent self-dilation difficulty was 5.0 ± 2.7, the median pain score was 3.0 ± 2.7 and median interference with daily life was 2.0 ± 1.3. Overall quality of life in patients with stricture was poor (median score 7.0 ± 2.6 with poor quality of life defined as 7 or greater). On univariate analysis younger age (p <0.01), interference (p = 0.03), pain (p <0.01) and difficulty performing intermittent self-dilation (p = 0.03) correlated with poor quality of life in a statistically significant manner. On multivariate analysis only difficulty catheterizing (p <0.01) and younger age (p = 0.05) were statistically significant predictors. Patients with stricture involving the posterior urethra had a statistically significant increase in difficulty and decrease in quality of life (each p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Most patients with urethral stricture who are on intermittent self-dilation rate difficulty and pain as moderate, and inconvenience as low but report poor quality of life.

High Submuscular Placement of Urologic Prosthetic Balloons and Reservoirs via Transscrotal Approach

INTRODUCTION Traditional placement of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) reservoirs and/or artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) balloons into the space of Retzius may be challenging following major pelvic surgery. AIM The aim of this study is to report our 1-year experience using a novel technique for high balloon/reservoir placement beneath the rectus abdominus muscle, thus completely obviating deep pelvic dissection during prosthetic urologic surgery. METHODS A retrospective review of all patients who underwent IPP and/or AUS placement between June 2011 and June 2012 was performed. All had AUS balloons and/or IPP reservoirs placed in a submuscular location by bluntly tunneling through the external inguinal ring into a potential space between the transversalis fascia and the rectus abdominus muscle using a long, angled, lung grasping clamp. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient demographics, perioperative outcomes, and initial follow-up patient-reported outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS During the study period, 120 submuscular balloons/reservoirs were inserted in 107 consecutive patients who underwent placement of an IPP (61 patients), AUS (33 patients), or both (13 patients). Among our 48 most recent patients, 41 (85%) reported they were totally unable to feel their balloon/reservoir, and all but two patients reported no bother from the submuscular balloon/reservoir placement. Of the 120 total submuscular balloons and reservoirs, surgical time and outcomes of the prosthetic procedures appeared similar to those placed using traditional methods; two reservoirs required revision surgery for repositioning. CONCLUSIONS High submuscular placement of genitourinary prosthetic balloons and reservoirs via a transscrotal approach is both safely and effective, while avoiding deep retropubic dissection.

Impact of 3.5 cm Artificial Urinary Sphincter Cuff on Primary and Revision Surgery for Male Stress Urinary Incontinence

PURPOSE We report our initial clinical experience with the new 3.5 cm artificial urinary sphincter cuff. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the records of all men who underwent artificial urinary sphincter placement done by a single surgeon since September 2009. A perineal approach was used to ensure cuff placement around the most proximal corpus spongiosum after precise spongiosal measurement with a redesigned measuring tape. Clinical factors and cuff sizes were analyzed. RESULTS During the 14-month study period 45 of 67 patients (67%) with an artificial urinary sphincter received the 3.5 cm cuff with no difference between primary and revision surgery (73% vs 58%, p = 0.29). Transcorporal cuff placement was reserved for 8 select patients (12%) after prior artificial urinary sphincter cuff erosion or complex urethroplasty. A tandem cuff artificial urinary sphincter was not used. Erectile dysfunction (89% vs 77%, p = 0.28) and prior radiation (47% vs 27%, p = 0.12) were more common in men who received a 3.5 vs a 4.0 cm or greater cuff. A similar proportion of men with a 3.5 cm vs a larger cuff (4 of 45 or 9% vs 2 of 22 or 9%) required explantation for infection and/or erosion. CONCLUSIONS At our center the 3.5 cm cuff has become the predominant size used for primary and revision artificial urinary sphincter placement. Liberal use of the 3.5 cm cuff has simplified and improved artificial urinary sphincter placement without additional morbidity.

Repeat Transurethral Manipulation of Bulbar Urethral Strictures is Associated With Increased Stricture Complexity and Prolonged Disease Duration

PURPOSE We examined the association of previous transurethral manipulation with stricture complexity and disease duration among men referred for bulbar urethral reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of 340 consecutive urethroplasties performed by a single surgeon between July 2007 and October 2010. Only men treated with initial open surgery for bulbar strictures were included in analysis, thus excluding those with hypospadias, lichen sclerosus, pelvic radiation, prior urethroplasty, incomplete data, or pure penile or posterior urethral stenosis. Cases were divided into 2 groups based on the history of transurethral treatment for urethral stricture before urethroplasty, including group 1-0 or 1 and group 2-2 or greater treatments. RESULTS Of 101 patients with bulbar urethral stricture and all data available 50 and 51 underwent 0 to 1 and 2 or greater previous transurethral treatments, respectively. Repeat transurethral manipulation was strongly associated with longer strictures and the need for complex reconstruction. Repeat transurethral manipulation of bulbar urethral strictures was also associated with an eightfold increase in disease duration between stricture diagnosis and curative urethroplasty. CONCLUSIONS Repeat transurethral manipulation of bulbar strictures is associated with increased stricture complexity and a marked delay to curative urethroplasty.

Strategies for open reconstruction of upper ureteral strictures.

This article presents a review of the literature regarding surgical techniques and outcomes for reconstruction of strictures involving the upper ureter. The preoperative assessment for proximal ureteral stricture is briefly reviewed, followed by a discussion of ureteroureterostomy, transureteroureterostomy, ureterocalicostomy, bladder flaps, downward nephropexy, bowel interposition grafts, onlay or tubular grafting, renal autotransplantation, and nephrectomy. The future direction for reconstruction of the proximal ureter is proposed.

Central Role of Boari Bladder Flap and Downward Nephropexy in Upper Ureteral Reconstruction

PURPOSE We defined the role of the Boari bladder flap procedure with or without downward nephropexy for proximal vs distal ureteral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients who underwent open ureteral reconstruction for refractory ureteral strictures, as done by a single surgeon between 2007 and 2010. Patients were grouped by stricture site into group 1--proximal third of the ureter and group 2--distal two-thirds. Operative techniques and outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS During the 30-month study period a total of 29 ureteral reconstruction procedures were performed on 27 patients. A Boari bladder flap was used in 10 of the 12 patients (83%) in group 1 and 10 of the 17 (59%) in group 2. Concomitant downward nephropexy was done more commonly in group 1 (58% vs 12%, p = 0.014). At a mean followup of 11.4 months there was no difference in the overall failure rate between groups 1 and 2 (17% vs 12%). Complications developed more frequently in group 1 (75% vs 35%, p = 0.060), hospital stay was longer (mean 8.0 vs 4.4 days, p = 0.017) and mean estimated blood loss was greater (447 vs 224 ml, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS The Boari bladder flap procedure is a reliable technique to reconstruct ureteral strictures regardless of site. Renal mobilization with downward nephropexy is a useful adjunctive maneuver for proximal strictures.

Favorable Patient Reported Outcomes After Penile Plication for Wide Array of Peyronie Disease Abnormalities

PURPOSE We present patient reported outcomes from our 5-year experience using penile plication to correct a wide variety of Peyronie disease malformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the records of all men who underwent penile plication for Peyronie disease, as performed by one of us (AFM). All patients were treated with tunical plication without penile degloving via a 2 cm longitudinal penile incision regardless of curvature severity or erectile function. A concomitant inflatable penile prosthesis was placed in men with refractory erectile dysfunction. A questionnaire was administered to assess the patient perception of postoperative penile curvature, length, rigidity and adequacy for intercourse. RESULTS Of 154 treated patients 78 (51%) and 65 (42%) had simple (less than 60 degrees) and complex (biplanar curvature, or curvature 60 degrees or greater) malformation, respectively, while 11 (7%) underwent plication plus inflatable penile prosthesis placement. A total of 132 patients responded to the questionnaire a mean 14 months after surgery. Overall, 96% of patients reported curvature improvement after penile plication, 93% reported erection adequate for sexual intercourse and 95% considered that the overall condition improved after surgery. Despite a significant difference in the number of plication sutures (mean 10 vs 7) and curvature angle correction (mean 57 vs 30 degrees, each p <0.005), self-reported outcomes of complex cases were equivalent to those of simple cases. While 84% of patients had no measureable decrease in stretched penile length, 103 of 154 (78%) reported a perceived penile length reduction after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Penile plication without degloving is effective for correcting a wide variety of Peyronie disease malformations. It can be safely combined with inflatable penile prosthesis placement.

Penile plication without degloving enables effective correction of complex Peyronie's deformities

OBJECTIVE To present our initial experience with extended plication repair for men with severe and/or biplanar penile curvature. MATERIALS AND METHODS A review of men who underwent plication repair for complex penile deformity (biplanar curvature or curvature ≥ 60°) was performed. All patients underwent tunical plication via a 2-cm penoscrotal incision mobilized distally along the penile shaft without degloving. Angle of curvature, direction(s), stretched penile length (SPL), and number of sutures were recorded. RESULTS Among 102 patients treated with plication surgery, 43 (44%) had complex penile deformity. Among 11 men with biplanar curvature, median angle in the primary plane of curvature was corrected from 45° to 10° and secondary plane was corrected from 35° to 5° using an average of 7 sutures (5° correction per suture). Among 32 men with severe curvature, median angle of curvature was corrected from 70° to 15° using an average of 11 sutures (6° correction per suture). SPL was unchanged in 29 (69%), increased an average of 0.65 cm in 7 (16%), and decreased 0.5 cm in only 6 (14%) patients. At a mean follow-up of 15.3 months, repeat plication was required in 2 patients and 2 required penile prosthesis. CONCLUSION Penile plication without degloving appears to be safe and effective for correction of complex penile curvature without significant impact on penile length.

Cost-Effectiveness of Risk Stratified Followup after Urethral Reconstruction: A Decision Analysis

PURPOSE We propose a novel risk stratified followup protocol for use after urethroplasty and explore potential cost savings. MATERIALS AND METHODS Decision analysis was performed comparing a symptom based, risk stratified protocol for patients undergoing excision and primary anastomosis urethroplasty vs a standard regimen of close followup for urethroplasty. Model assumptions included that excision and primary anastomosis has a 94% success rate, 11% of patients with successful urethroplasty had persistent lower urinary tract symptoms requiring cystoscopic evaluation, patients in whom treatment failed undergo urethrotomy and patients with recurrence on symptom based surveillance have a delayed diagnosis requiring suprapubic tube drainage. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2010 was queried to identify the number of urethroplasties performed per year in the United States. Costs were obtained based on Medicare reimbursement rates. RESULTS The 5-year cost of a symptom based, risk stratified followup protocol is

Single‐stage reconstruction of complex anterior urethral strictures using overlapping dorsal and ventral buccal mucosal grafts

430 per patient vs