Urethral Stricture is an Unpleasant Complication after Prostate Surgery: A Critical Review of Current Literature

Urethral stricture is narrowing of the urethra due to inflammation that results in scarring. Prostatectomies for benign and malign prostatic diseases are common surgical procedures among men mainly after their fifties. Urethral stricture or bladder neck contraction following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is seen in up to 19% of men in different series. Urethral stricture after laser prostatectomy is less frequently reported than TURP, which is about 3.6%. Open prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia is the oldest technique, nonetheless, it is a reasonable alternative for patients with larger prostates. Urethral stricture is reported in 1.9-4.8% of patients after open prostatectomy. Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the most common surgical procedure done worldwide for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Contracture of the bladder neck at the level of the anastomosis is a well-recognized complication after RP occurring in 0.4-32% of patients. Strictures are mainly treated with endoscopic procedures. Rarely, urethroplasty with buccal mucosa grafts is needed for more complicated cases.