[One-stage urethroplasty using colonic mucosa in the treatment of complex lengthy urethral stricture]

To investigate the feasibility of urethral reconstruction with colonic mucosa graft in the treatment of complex lengthy urethral stricture.

Between October 2000 and May 2003, 19 male patients with complex lengthy urethral stricture that had undergone unsuccessful urethral repair 3 times on average, aged 18 - 65, were treated with free graft of colonic mucosa 10 to 17 cm (mean 13.2 cm) long. The patients were followed-up for 6 - 36 months (17 months on average) by retrograde urethrography, urethroscopy, and uroflometry.

Meatal stenosis that needed reoperation was developed in 1 patient 3 months postoperatively. This patient became voiding very well with a urinary peak flow of 28.7 ml per second during the follow-up of 12 months after the second operation. Hyperplasia of verumontanum was observed during urethroscopy in 1 patient 14 months postoperatively. Uroflometry examination showed a urinary peak flow of 46.5 ml/s after transurethral colliculectomy. The other 17 patients were voiding well with a urinary peak flow greater than 15 ml/s (16 to 28.5 ml/s).

Colonic mucosa graft urethroplasty is a feasible procedure for the treatment of complex lengthy urethral stricture, particularly when the more conventional options fail or are contraindicated.