Treatment of obliterated membranous and bulbous urethras by direct vision internal urethrotomy

Acute placement of a suprapubic bladder tube followed months later by open urethroplasty has been the traditional manner for managing traumatic disruption of the proximal urethra. The latter procedure has generally been performed via the transpubic or perineal approach. These procedures have been complicated by excessive blood loss, impotence, incontinence, strictures, and extended hospitalizations. Since 1979, 12 patients with obliterated urethras (ten membranous, two bulbous) have been treated by direct vision urethrotomy using a second cystoscope or sound passed through the previously placed suprapubic tract as a guide. Mean blood loss, hospital stay, and followup were 70 ml, 6 days, and 22 months, respectively. Six patients required at least one additional internal urethrotomy. With the exception of one patient who still requires intermittent self-catheterization, all have stable strictures. Ten are continent (one was incontinent secondary to previous radical prostatectomy before urethrotomy and one became incontinent after a TURP performed 3 years after urethrotomy). Five are potent and none lost potency as a result of urethrotomy. Flow rates range from 15-25 ml/second in the continent patients. This is a reasonable first procedure for restoring continuity of traumatically obliterated membranous and bulbous urethras.