Volume 36
Number 1 January 2024Dorsal 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
- rofessor, Department of Urology
- Professor and Head of the Department of Urology
- Associate Professor, Department of Urology
- Register, Department of Urology