History of urethral surgery: Lessons learnt from the past.

INTRODUCTION

Although failures are undesirable, they offer valuable learning opportunities that drive progress through necessary changes. This concept holds particularly true in the history of urethral reconstruction.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, focusing on the history of the urethral stricture and current trends based on national and international guidelines for urethral stricture management.

RESULTS

Urethral strictures are among the oldest known urological conditions, with initial treatments centred around dilatation. These palliative measures proved disappointing. The advent of reconstructive urology has transformed this pathology into a treatable condition, notably through Excision and Primary Anastomosis (EPA) and one-stage augmentation urethroplasty using buccal grafts.

CONCLUSION

Urethroplasty is the gold standard treatment for urethral strictures, and ongoing refinements aim to further reduce morbidity.