One-stage buccal two-flap urethroplasty using the Kulkarni technique for extended anterior urethral strictures

Introduction. The problem of extended urethral strictures treatment remains relevant due to the complexity of the supervision of such patients and the high frequency of disease recurrence after surgical treatment.
Purpose of the study. Evaluation of the effectiveness of one-stage buccal urethroplasty according to the Kulkarni technique using two flaps for extended anterior urethral strictures.
Materials and methods. The study included 18 men with an extended anterior urethral stricture, who underwent buccal urethroplasty by perineal access using the Kulkarni dorsolateral onlay technique using two flaps from January 2018 to March 2020, and a postoperative follow-up period of at least 6 months. The study was prospective. Control examination was carried out 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after surgery. The criteria for the recurrence of urethral stricture were the presence of complaints of deterioration in the quality of urination in combination with a decrease in the maximum urinary flow rate of less than 12 ml/sec and the presence of residual urine in an amount of more than 100 ml, as well as the need to perform any surgical intervention to restore the normal passage of urine.
Results. The age of the patients ranged from 32 to 72 years (median 58 years). The length of the stricture ranged from 6 to 11 cm (median, 8 cm). The stricture was localized in the penile segment in 11 (61.1%) cases and the penile and bulbar urethra in 7 (38.9%) cases simultaneously. An iatrogenic cause of urethral stricture occurred in 11 (61.1) patients, idiopathic in 5 (27.8%) patients and inflammatory in 2 (11.1%) patients. The stricture was primary in 12 (66.7%) cases and recurrent in 6 (33.3%). Spontaneous urination was preserved in 6 (33.3%) patients, cystostomy existed in 12 (66.7%) patients. The follow-up period after surgery ranged from 3 to 24 months (median - 12 months). Recurrence of urethral stricture was noted in 3 (16.7%) cases. The use of this technique for recurrent forms of the urethral stricture (recurrence after the previous urethroplasty) is the most significant risk factor for treatment failure. 1 (5.6%) case of erectile dysfunction and stress urinary incontinence has taken place of the late postoperative complications.
Conclusions. The Kulkarni operation using two buccal flaps for extended strictures of the anterior urethra allows to achieve high rates of efficacy and safety of a treatment, however, the risk of failure increases significantly when used for the treatment of recurrent types of strictures.

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