Determine the outcomes of uretheral strictures in patients undergoing urethroplasty and endoscopic urethrotomy

Aim: To examine the outcomes in term of urine flow and recurrence rate of urethral strictures treated by urethroplasty and endoscopic urethrotomy. Study Design: Retrospective study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Urology, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Teaching Hospital Sukkur from 1st June 2019 to 30th March 2020. Methodology: Sixty male patients presented with strictures of urethra were enrolled in this study. Patients detailed demographic including age, co-morbidity, size of stricture, types of strictures and causes of urethral strictures were recorded. 30 patients received urethroplasty and 30 patients were treated by endoscopic urethrotomy. Outcomes of surgical procedures in term of urine flow (Qmax) and recurrence rate were examined at 6 months follow-up. Results: Mean age of patients was 51.35±14.62 years. Trauma was the most frequent cause of urethral strictures found in 25 (41.67%) followed by iatrogenic and idiopathic. Bulbar urethral was the commonest location found in 50% patients. After surgical treatment a significant difference was observed regarding Q max flowmetry between both techniques (urethroplasty 14.28±7.4 Vs 12.9±6.7mL/s urethrotomy) with p-value 0.02. At 6 month follow-up recurrence was high in patients treated with internal urethrotomy as compared to urethroplasty 9 (30%) and 2 (6.67%) with p-value 0.006. Conclusion: Urethroplasty is safe and effective with better urine flow outcome and very low recurrence rate as compared to endoscopic urethrotomy. (author)