The Management of Urethral Strictures and Stenoses at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center

Background: A urethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the urethra resulting from fibrosis in the surrounding corpus spongiosum. The prevalence is estimated to be 229–627 per 100,000 males and its effects on the quality of life of those with the disease are far-reaching. Documented male-to-female ratio in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, showed a ratio of 31:1 indicating that urethral stricture is very rare in females. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the approach and outcome of the management of urethral stricture and stenosis at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. Material and Methods: This is a 7-month retrospective descriptive study assessing the management of 20 patients with urethral stricture at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center from January 2018 to August 2018. The patient’s medical records were retrieved form the record department and reviewed for age, etiology of urethral stricture, site of urethral stricture, procedure performed and postoperative complications. Result: A total of 20 male patients with urethral stricture or stenosis were included in the study. Study revealed that the predominant etiology of urethral stricture was post-traumatic accounting for 35% (7/20). Gonoccal urethritis caused urethral stricture in 30% (6/20) of patients while instrumentation was 20% (4/20). Most of the post-inflammatory stricture involved the bulbar urethra as well as the penile urethra. Urethral Dilatation 9/20 (45%) and resection plus end to end anastomotic urethroplasty 35% (7/20) were the procedures commonly used to manage urethral strictures mostly the bulbar and bulbo-penile parts of the urethra. Conclusion: Urethral stricture disease is a common cause of urological presentation to the urologist worldwide. Urethral dilatation is most commonly performed for urethral strictures due to its feasibility and much less technical challenge. The failure rate is nonetheless high therefore, urethroplasty remains the standard option if possible. Appropriate traffic regulations, judicious use of catheters and proper treatment of urethritis could reduce the incidence of urethral stricture disease