Experience of rectus muscle flap for transpubic urethroplasty

Park, Hi Cheol; Kim, Je Jong; Koh, Sung Kun

Abstract

Urethroplasty for posterior urethral stricture has almost always been technically difficult mainly due to the limited exposure of the operative field which is positioned above the urogenital diaphragm and behind the pubis. Transpubic approach for the urethroplasty allows excellent exposure upon the stricture without violating the sphincter nor causing any orthopedic by an omental pedicle graft. But in case or previous abdominal surgery or peritonitis, omentum can not be utilized for the flap due to adhesion. We have experienced a case of posterior urethral stricture who underwent transpubic urethroplasty with rectus muscle flap for replacement of the dead space due to previous abdominal surgery. The result of the operation was satisfactory without any complications such as incontinence or stricture. We believe that replacement of dead space with rectus muscle flap should be given a consideration as an alternative method to omental pedicle graft during transpubic urethroplasty.