The treatment of sphincter strictures.

A group of 25 patients with strictures of the membranous urethra following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) were investigated and treated initially by careful urethral dilatation. This controlled the stricture in 14 patients, 6 of whom continued with occasional dilatation or self-catheterisation to maintain control; 8 required an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and 2 required a "clam" ileocystoplasty for detrusor instability. Eleven had persistent or recurrent strictures requiring urethroplasty. Nine underwent bulbo-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty, 4 with simultaneous bladder neck reconstruction and 5 with subsequent implantation of an AUS; 2 had a preputial patch urethroplasty with subsequent implantation of an AUS. Four of the 9 patients with a urethroplasty and an AUS are satisfactory, 1 developed a recurrent stricture and 2 developed erosions. Two of those with a bulbo-prostatic anastomosis and bladder neck reconstruction are satisfactory and 2 are incontinent. These results were compared with those of 18 other patients who underwent bladder neck reconstruction and 12 who had a urethroplasty in conjunction with an AUS for reasons other than a post-TURP sphincter stricture. The success rate of bladder neck reconstruction was 55% and the success rate of urethroplasty in conjunction with an AUS was 83%, but the main complication of AUS implantation, erosion, was a more serious problem than failure of bladder neck reconstruction. However, the much higher success rate makes AUS implantation a more satisfactory procedure. Surgery should be avoided if at all possible and reliance placed on urethral dilatation.