A multi-institutional critical assessment of dorsal onlay urethroplasty for post-radiation urethral stenosis.

PURPOSE: To critically evaluate a multi-institutional patient cohort undergoing Dorsal-Onlay Buccal Mucosal Graft Urethroplasty (D-BMGU) for recurrent post-radiation posterior urethral stenosis. METHODS: Retrospective multi-institutional review of patients with posterior urethral stenosis from 10 institutions between 2010-2019 was performed. Patients with at least 1-year follow-up were assessed. Patient demographics, stenosis characteristics, peri-operative outcomes, and post-operative clinical and patient-reported outcomes were analyzed. The primary outcomes were stenosis recurrence and de-novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Secondary outcomes were changes in voiding, sexual function, and patient-reported satisfaction. RESULTS: Seventy-nine men with post-radiation urethral stenosis treated with D-BMGU met inclusion criteria. Median age and stenosis length were 72 years, (IQR 66-75), and 3.0 cm (IQR 2.5-4 cm), respectively. Radiation modalities included: 36 (45.6%) external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), 13 (16.5%) brachytherapy (BT), 10 (12.7%) combination EBRT/BT, and 20 (25.3%) EBRT/radical prostatectomy. At a median follow-up of 21 months (IQR 13-40), 14 patients (17.7%) had stenosis recurrence. Among 37 preoperatively-continent patients, 3 men (8.1%) developed de-novo SUI following dorsal onlay urethroplasty. Of 29 patients with preoperative SUI all but one remained incontinent post-operatively (96.6%). Following repair, patients experienced significant improvement in PVR (92.5 to 26 cc, p = 0.001) and Uroflow (4.6 to 15.9 cc/s, p = 0.001), and high overall satisfaction, with 91.9% reporting a GRA of + 2 or better). CONCLUSION: Dorsal onlay buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty is a safe and feasible technique in patients with post-radiation posterior urethral stenosis. This non-transecting approach may confer low rates of de-novo SUI. Further research is needed to compare this technique with excisional urethroplasty.

Acute management of complete bilateral ureteral transections aligned via stent through antegrade and retrograde approach.

To manage bilateral complete distal ureteral transections (CDUT) via stent placement achieved through a combination of antegrade and retrograde approaches. An antegrade wire was advanced through the nephrostomy tube. Flexible ureteroscopy was utilized via retrograde approach to identify the guidewire in the pelvis. The guidewire was grasped and withdrawn out the urethra, and bilateral stents were placed over guidewire. Patient continues to remain asymptomatic one year later, with symmetrical renal function and no evidence of obstruction. We demonstrate that a CDUT can be successfully realigned with a combined endourological approach, thereby avoiding open/laparoscopic ureteral repair.

Long-term Follow Up of Ileal Ureteral Replacement for Complex Ureteral Strictures: Single Institution Study.

OBJECTIVE: To report our 16-year experience with ileal ureter interposition for complex ureteral stricture. Ureteral reconstruction continues to evolve to include less invasive techniques to successfully manage ureteral stricture. However, long, complex, obliterative and especially radiated ureteral strictures are not amenable to less invasive techniques and may require Ileal ureter interposition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of a single institution's ureteral reconstruction database was performed. Demographics, operative details, success rate, complication rate, and length of follow-up were noted. Unilateral replacements utilized ileal ureteral interposition. Success rate was defined as no need for further open intervention. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2019, 188 ureteral reconstructions were performed, of which 46 required ileal ureter interposition. Of these 46 patients, 10 required bilateral reconstruction. Average age was 53 years, 26 (57%) were female. The average stricture length was 9.1 cm (2-20 cm). Stricture etiology included iatrogenic causes (n = 24, 52%), radiation causes (n = 12; 26%), vascular disease (n = 3; 7%), and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (n = 3; 7%). Forty-three surgeries were performed by open abdominal approach; 3 were performed robotically. The average length of operation was 412 minutes, blood loss 417 mL and LOS was 10 days. At mean follow up of 4.4 years (1-16 years), overall success rate was 83%, with 17% (n = 8) patients requiring subsequent major surgery (5 successful ureteral revision, 3 nephrectomy) and 11 (24%) patients experiencing a major complication. CONCLUSION: In our long-term follow up of over 4 years, ileal ureteral interposition remains a successful option for complex ureteral strictures in properly selected patients.

Venous thromboembolism after radical cystectomy: Experience with screening ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVES: To detect the incidence of immediate postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using screening lower extremity ultrasonography (US) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and to determine the rate of symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) after RC and identify risk factors for venous thromboembolic (VTE) events in a RC population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of prospective data collected on patients who underwent RC between July 2008 and January 2012. These patients underwent screening US at 2/3 days after RC to determine the rate of asymptomatic DVT. A chart review was completed to identify those who had a symptomatic PE. Univariate and multivariable analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with DVT, PE and total VTE events. RESULTS: In all, 221 patients underwent RC and asymptomatic DVT was identified in 21 (9.5%) on screening US. Nine (4.5%) developed symptomatic PE at a median of 9 days, of which no patients had positive lower extremity US postoperatively. Increased length of hospital stay, increased estimated blood loss, and lower body mass index were linked to risk of PE, and only a previous history of DVT was associated with postoperative DVT. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo RC are at high-risk for thromboembolic events and multimodal prophylaxis should be administered. Clinicians should be especially vigilant in those who demonstrate factors associated with higher risk for VTE events.