Calibration of urethra with anti-scar gel as a new preventive method for stricture recurrence after urethroplasty performed due to refractory anterior urethral stricture disease

• Published in: Central European journal of urology 2020, Vol.73 (1), p.80-90
• Main Authors: Perdzyński, Wojciech, Adamek, Marek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calibration; Catheters; Methods; Original Paper; Patients; Skin & tissue grafts; Wound healing
• ISSN: 2080-4806; 2080-4873; 2080-4873
• DOI: 10.5173/ceju.2020.0050

The aim of this article was to determine if scar contraction can be prevented by calibration of urethra with anti-scar gel (ASG). The authors operated on 36 men with recurrent urethral strictures (US). Strictures were localized in the penile (n = 26), penile and bulbar (8) or in the bulbar (2) part of the urethra. In 34 patients, dorsal inlay buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (BMGU) was performed and in the remaining 2 patients dorsal onlay BMGU was performed. First calibration was done one month after operation by hegar size 3.5 (diameter in millimeters) with ASG. Patients were instructed how to perform this action and repeated this action for 4-6 weeks. Then, every 4-6 weeks, the size of the calibrator was increased by 0.5 up to 6.0, if it was introduced with ease. Results were assessed by uroflowmetry and urethral calibration. Afterwards, calibrations were carried out twice a week for 6 months and then once a week for another 6 months followed by once a month. Mean follow-up was 61 months. In uroflowmetry examination, voiding improved in all patients. Both preoperative mean Qmax and mean Qavg increased, the former from 6.2 to 22.5 ml/s, the latter from 4.3 to 12.4 ml/s, (p