Substitution Urethroplasty in Female Urethral Stricture — Our Initial Experience

Abstract

This study is to compare different substitutional urethroplasties in female urethral stricture (FUS). FUS constitutes 4–13% of patients, with voiding symptoms, commonly treated by urethral dilatation or internal urethrotomy with a poor success rate. A urethral reconstruction is a viable option. We compared the results of different substitutional urethroplasty for the stricture urethra in females. Symptoms identified FUS. Urethral calibration (unable to pass 8 Fr catheter) and urinary flow rate of less than 12 ml per second were taken as inclusion criteria. Substitution urethroplasty was performed using vaginal ventral onlay flap vaginal dorsal graft (n = 8), dorsal buccal mucosa (n = 8), and labial skin grafts (n = 4) over 3 years. Twenty patients with urethral stricture were identified (mean age of 49.9 years). We found a good stream immediately after removing the catheter in all vaginal flap patients with post-void dribbling. With the three vaginal graft patients (75%), six buccal mucosa graft patients (75%), and two patients (50%) in the labia minora graft, 14 Fr catheter calibration is accessible in all patients except 50% of patients of the labia minora group on 1st follow-up. They require repeated dilatation. Uroflowmetry at six months showed normal flow in all vaginal flap/ graft patients and buccal mucosa grafts, while only 50% of labia minora grafts showed mild improvement. Urethroplasty using dorsal onlay buccal mucosa and vaginal graft gives the best results in women. The vaginal wall can be used safely in nonavailability of buccal mucosa. Labia minora grafts showed poor results.