Urethral Reconstruction in Aging Male Patients

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Urethral stricture disease affects men of all ages.
• Elderly men represent a growing population undergoing surgical interventions.
• Limited data exists on urethral reconstruction outcomes specifically in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate characteristics, complications, and treatment outcomes of urethral reconstruction in elderly men.
• To compare outcomes across different age strata undergoing urethroplasty.
• To identify factors influencing treatment success and failure in older patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 514 urethroplasty cases performed by a single surgeon (2007-2014).
• Patients stratified by age decade (<50, 50-59, 60-69, ≥70 years); hypospadias cases excluded.
• Analysis of stricture characteristics, complication rates, and long-term recurrence-free survival.

Main Results:

• 184 men (36%) were aged 60 years or older.
• Elderly men had higher rates of prior radiation therapy and urethroplasty failure.
• Stricture recurrence-free survival decreased significantly with advancing age; older men experienced more voiding dysfunction and complications.

Conclusions:

• Urethroplasty demonstrates safety and efficacy in most elderly men.
• Anastomotic urethroplasty or urethrostomy techniques may optimize outcomes when performed early.
• Concurrent voiding dysfunction and prostatic obstruction require clinical attention in this demographic.