Female urethral stricture disease is rare and has several surgical approaches including endoscopic dilations (ENDO), urethroplasty with local vaginal tissue flap (ULT) or urethroplasty with free graft (UFG). This study aims to describe the contemporary management of female urethral stricture disease and to evaluate the outcomes of these three surgical approaches. Methods: This is a multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study evaluating operative treatment for female urethral stricture. Surgeries were grouped into three categories: ENDO, ULT, and UFG. Time from surgery to stricture recurrence by surgery type was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier time to event analysis. To adjust for confounders, a Cox proportional hazard model was fit for time to stricture recurrence. Results: Two-hundred and ten patients met the inclusion criteria across 23 sites. Overall, 64% (n = 115/180) of women remained recurrence free at median follow-up of 14.6 months (IQR, 3-37). In unadjusted analysis, recurrence-free rates differed between surgery categories with 68% ENDO, 77% UFG and 83% ULT patients being recurrence free at 12 months. In the Cox model, recurrence rates also differed between surgery categories; women undergoing ULT and UFG having had 66% and 49% less risk of recurrence, respectively, compared to those undergoing ENDO. When comparing ULT to UFG directly, there was no significant difference of recurrence. Conclusion: This retrospective multi-institutional study of female urethral stricture demonstrates that patients undergoing endoscopic management have a higher risk of recurrence compared to those undergoing either urethroplasty with local flap or free graft.
Among the different techniques utilized for TURP, the prevalence of postoperative LUTS is similar. The chronically obstructed bladder has been shown to vary in its expression of collagen, tissue factors, and receptors when compared to the normal bladder which could contribute to the pathophysiology of LUTS after TURP. Although androgen receptors exist in the urinary epithelium, the role of sex hormones in LUTS remains obscure. GreenLight laser can lead to postoperative irritative voiding symptoms as a result of tissue necrosis. A large proportion of patients have persistent LUTS following TURP, with similar incidences between different techniques that can be used to perform TURP. LUTS after TURP should be evaluated with a thorough history and physical, including International Prostate Symptom Score, and urine culture to rule out infection. Noninvasive uroflow, post-void residuals, and subsequent urodynamic study or cystoscopy can be utilized as needed. Further research is necessary to be able to more precisely predict the patients who will experience no improvement in or worsening of LUTS following TURP.
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