Dorsal Vaginal Graft Urethroplasty: An Effective Surgical Technique for the Correction of Female Urethral Stricture

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/jmsr.2024.v3601.04

S Alam1 , A Rasul2 , A Sharif3 , Z Rabbani4

Abstract

Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in women is relatively rare, with only 2.7–8% of cases being attributedto urethral strictures. While intermittent self-catheterization is commonly recommended following multipledilatation attempts, recurrence remains a significant issue. This retrospective analysis evaluates the outcomesof dorsal vaginal graft urethroplasty (DVGU) as a definitive treatment for female urethral stricture. Fourteenwomen underwent this procedure between January 2022 and October 2023 at Holy Family Red CrescentMedical College Hospital, performed by a single surgeon. Patient selection was based on clinical history,physical examination, urethroscopy, uroflowmetry, urethral calibration, and voiding cystourethrography. Keymetrics assessed pre- and postoperatively included peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual urinevolume (PVR), and subjective patient satisfaction scores. Patients were aged between 59 and 65 years. Themean Qmax improved significantly from 6.35 ml/s to 25.12 ml/s (p < 0.05), and the mean PVR reduced from148.12 ml to 41.67 ml (p < 0.05). Urethral calibration increased from an average of 12.76 F to 24.50 F (p <0.05). Depending on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale, five patients reported being “verymuch better,” seven reported “much better,” and two felt “a little better.” Four patients (28.5%) experiencedrecurrence; two responded to minor dilatation, and two required ongoing self-catheterization. The overallsuccess rate over a 12 to 36-month follow-up period was 87.5%. DVGU appears to be a safe, effective, andstraightforward method for managing female urethral stricture and may serve as a primary option for definitivesurgical repair.

Keywords: Female urethral stricture, Dorsal vaginal graft, Vaginal graft urethroplasty


  1. rofessor, Department of Urology

    Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Dhaka

  2. Professor and Head of the Department of Urology

    Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Dhaka

  3. Associate Professor, Department of Urology

    Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Dhaka

  4. Register, Department of Urology


Volume 36, Number 1 January 2024
Page: 24-32