Can the parameters of penile duplex assessment predict the success of urethroplasty?

Abstract

This work aimed to study the role of penile duplex in predicting the outcome of anastomotic urethroplasty. Between March 2022 and February 2023, all patients presented with posterior urethral distraction defect (PUDD) underwent anastomotic end to end urethroplasty. Preoperative evaluation of sexual function was performed using international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) and penile doppler parameters (the response E1 to E5, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistivity index (RI)). Each patient was, routinely, evaluated through 12 month-follow up using IIEF-5, penile doppler parameters, uroflowmetry for Qmax and pelvic ultrasound for postvoid residual urine (PVR). The procedure was considered successful if Qmax > 15 ml/s and PVR < 50 cc at the end of follow up. The correlation between the success rate of anastomotic urethroplasty and pre-operative penile Doppler parameters was the primary outcome. Thirty patients with a mean age of 29.47 ± 9.79 years were evaluated. Twenty patients (66.7%) had previous orthopedic surgery. The stricture site was membranous in 6 patients (20.0%) and bubo-membranous in 24 (80.0%). The mean stricture length was 2.52 ± 0.98 cm. There was a statistically significant increase in mean end-diastolic velocity (P < 0.001) with a subsequent significant decrease in mean resistance index (P < 0.001). 14.3% of pre-operatively potent patients developed venous leakage (P < 0.001), while there was no change of arteriogenic or venogenic erectile dysfunction. In addition, of the patients who have arteriogenic erectile dysfunction, 37.5% did not require surgery, 25% had a urethrocystoscopy, and 37.5% required a repeat end to end urethroplasty. There is a significant association between pre-operative peak systolic velocity and the need for re-operation (P = 0.005). Penile duplex may anticipate anastomotic urethroplasty efficacy in the case of PUDD.