Managing female urethral diverticulum with a standardized technique using a pacifier-trick artifice to facilitate dissection.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Managing urethral diverticula is challenging because of recurrence rate and postoperative complications. Herein, we report a standardized, single-institution experience of surgical treatment of urethral diverticula in women.

METHODS

The medical record of 37 female patients treated for urethral diverticula between 2005 and 2017 in a single institution were reviewed. All patients were operated in a standardized genupectoral position using a technical artifice called the pacifier trick to inflate diverticula throughout the procedure and facilitate its dissection. Symptoms at diagnosis, imaging findings, surgical parameters, postoperative complications, and recurrence rates were collected and are presented.

RESULTS

Median age was 39 ± 11 (range 21-67) years. At diagnosis, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) (67%), vaginal mass (46%), pelvic pain (43%), dyspareunia (27%), and urinary incontinence (UI) (24%) were the most commonly reported symptoms. Median operative time was 98 ± 31 (range 40-150) min. After a mean follow-up of 1 year, recurrence occurred in one (3%) patient. Immediate de novo postoperative UI decreased from 27% immediately after surgery to 3% after pelvic physical therapy. Pathological analyses found no malignant histology.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical management of urethral diverticula in women is technically demanding. With our standardized pacifier-trick technique, satisfying anatomical and functional results were achieved.