Assessments of ReDo buccal mucosal urethroplasty in terms of functional outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to assess the success rates and functional outcomes of ReDo buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty (BMGU) following failed primary BMGU and evaluate the oral morbidity and changes in quality of life (QoL) after this surgery.

Materials and methods: Data of the patients with recurrent anterior urethral stricture who underwent ReDo BMGU after failed primary BMGU were retrospectively reviewed. The collected data included the results of the urethral stricture surgery patient-reported outcome measure-lower urinary tract symptoms (USS-PROM-LUTS) and euro-quality of life visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) questionnaires performed preoperatively before and one year after surgery. The cohort was divided into two groups according to procedural success, and these groups were compared.

Results: Thirty-two men patients were included. Among these, twenty-seven (84.3%) cases were considered successful following ReDo BMGU. The pre-ReDo BMGU mean stricture length was significantly longer in the failure group (2.3 ± 0.6 vs. 4.4 ± 1.2 cm, p = 0.001). Except for one patient with persistent oral numbness, no severe complication was reported postoperatively in the first year. The mean USS-PROM-LUTS score decreased significantly, while the mean LUTS-related quality of life score increased significantly following ReDo BMGU (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). In addition, the mean total EQ-VAS score increased significantly from 62.75 to 78.45, indicating remarkable improvement (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Although less favorable outcomes can be anticipated in ReDo BMGU due to extensive scar tissue formation and reduced vascularity, high success and patient satisfaction rates and low oral morbidity rates were detected in ReDo BMGU cases.

Keywords: Lower urinary tract symptoms; Morbidity; Patient satisfaction; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Urethral stricture.