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INTRODUCTION Urethrocutaneous fistulae are the most common complication after hypospadias repair. We sought to compare outcomes of proximal versus distal urethrocutaneous fistula repair and hypothesized that patients with proximal fistulae would have lower rates of success than those with distal fistulae. We also aimed to evaluate factors that affected these outcomes., Material and Methods: Current procedural terminology codes were used to identify patients undergoing urethrocutaneous fistula repair after hypospadias surgery between 2014 and 2017 at an academic, pediatric urology referral center. Characteristics for each initial hypospadias repair and each fistula repair were noted, including location of meatus, location of fistula, type of magnification, suture type, interposition layer and post-operative stenting. The primary outcome was successful fistula repair. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed., Results: During the study period, 416 hypospadias repairs were performed. Thirty-one of these later presented with a fistula (8% fistula rate). Sixty-eight percent of fistulae were successfully closed with a single repair. There were 17 distal fistulae and 14 proximal fistulae. There was no difference in success between distal (71%) and proximal (64%) fistulae (p = 0.73). There was no statistically significant association between the primary outcome (successful fistula repair) and fistula location (p = 0.71), magnification (p = 0.38), suture type (p = 0.49), interposition coverage layer (0.43), or postoperative stenting (p = 0.92) on univariate or multivariate analysis., Conclusion: There is no difference in success when repairing distal versus proximal urethrocutaneous fistulae. Neither fistula location, type of magnification, suture type, interposition layer nor stenting affected outcomes.

Purpose: We evaluate variables affecting the success of repairs of urethrocutaneous fistula after hypospadias surgery., Materials and Methods: The records of 123 boys who underwent fistula repair at Primary Children's Medical Center were reviewed. Of these patients 100 underwent initial fistula repair at our center (surgery was performed at our center in 82 and elsewhere in 18) and 23 were referred from elsewhere after unsuccessful fistula repairs. Patient age was 6 months to 34 years (median 3.21 years) and interval between surgeries was 3.7 months to 12 years (median 12.6 months). Several variables potentially affecting the success of fistula closure were retrospectively assessed., Results: Including those patients referred from outside hospitals, fistulas were successfully closed in 71%, 72%, 77%, 100% and 100% of these patients after fistula repairs 1 to 5, respectively. Variables studied yielded stent 67.7% (36 of 54 cases) versus no stent 76.1% (35 of 46) and operating microscope 70.4% (59 of 71) versus loupes 72.4% (21 of 29) in terms of success. Success based on patient age yielded 65.5% for younger than 2 years (n = 29 patients), 71.7% for 2 to 5 (46), 64.7% for 6 to 12 (17) and 87.5% for older than 12 (8). When considering the type of original hypospadias repair and its affect on fistula closure success, a significantly lower success was noted with Yoke and King procedures (p = 0.007 and 0.037, respectively). In patients who underwent hypospadias surgery and all subsequent fistula closure attempts at our center, fistulas were successfully repaired in 72%, 67% and 100% of patients after attempts 1 to 3, respectively. Initial fistula repair was successful in 72% (59 of 82) of patients who underwent original hypospadias surgery at our center and in 67% (12 of 18) of those referred after hypospadias surgery at an outside hospital., Conclusions: Regarding urethrocutaneous fistula closure, the data from this study suggest that there is no clear difference in stent versus no stent and microscope versus loupes, age at fistula closure does not affect success, type of original hypospadias procedure may influence success (King and Yoke procedures were least successful), success rate is not negatively impacted in recurrent fistula cases, given a diverse group of fistulas, success of fistula repair for attempts 1 to 5 was 71%, 72%, 77%, 100% and 100%, respectively, and success rate in a tertiary pediatric urology setting is not influenced by whether the original hypospadias procedure or initial fistula closure was performed in the pediatric urology setting versus outside hospital.

An 8-year review of hypospadias repair in patients with a meatus proximal to the coronal margin is reported. Fistula rates were compared among 4 groups: 1) loupe magnification, 2) tunica vaginalis blanket wrap tissue interposition with loupe magnification, 3) operating microscope magnification and 4) tunica vaginalis blanket wrap tissue interposition in conjunction with operating microscope magnification. Rate of fistula formation with loupe magnification alone was 20%, microscope magnification alone was 12% and tunica vaginalis blanket wrap interposition with loupes was 9%. When tunica vaginalis blanket wrap tissue interposition was used in conjunction with intraoperative microscopy no fistulas resulted.

A new one-stage operation for correction of the more severe degrees of proximal hypospadias is described. This allows for the correction of chordee and maintains a dual vascular supply to the urethral flap derived from periurethral and pedicle blood vessels. This technique allows for correction of chordee and urethroplasty, and avoids the need for combination or staged repairs.

Tunica vaginalis on a vascular pedicle was tubularized and used as a urethra to repair hypospadias in three difficult cases. This is the first report of tunica vaginalis utilized for a urethral reconstruction in humans. This new surgical technique is described.