Urethroplasty Surgery in India - Top Surgeons, Best Hospitals & Costs

The health care delivery in Africa is facing several challenges. Inadequate access to contemporary infrastructure and high treatment costs are major problems. These limitations make many Africans seek medical care in other countries. Also, the absence of modern technology, inadequate medical equipment, and limited therapy options worsen the situation. Some countries, such as India, have better facilities for urethroplasty procedures, and other treatments. Thus, various patients from Zambia, Cameroon, Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Congo always travel for the expanded health services available.

India is famous for urethroplasty surgery among many African patients. Most people go for this procedure because they find the availability of more experienced physicians and better healthcare facilities than in their home countries. Hospitals in India are well equipped with all the modern facilities that contribute to the high success rates of urethroplasty. Also, it is cheaper than the Western and cuts the cost of healthcare by thousands of dollars.

Further, Indian urology hospitals are widely famous for the high-quality delivery of medical services. The visa process is quick so that patients can access medical attention faster. Such advantages provide quality care with reasonable charges that make India the best for urethroplasty procedures among African patients.

Urethroplasty is the surgery done to treat urethral stricture, which is a condition caused by the narrow passage of the lumen of the urethra. Due to the blockage caused by the narrowing down, the flow of the urine may be blocked partly or entirely. Urethral stricture is more common in males than in females. In urethral stricture, the bulbar urethra is the part that is generally affected.

What are the Urethral Stricture Causes?

Stricture is narrow in the urine pipe; the urine pipe starts from the bladder, and it goes all the way up to the tip from where the urine is discharged. So if there is any narrowing in the region below the prostate and up to the tip, that entity is known as a stricture of the urethra. In stricture urethra, the patient is present with the main symptom of passing urine in thin streams, passing urine with a lot of force. He has to actually push a lot of force to pass the urine. Sometimes the patient complains of passing the urine drop. And in extreme cases, the patient can come up with the complaint of complete retention of the urine, that is, the inability to pass a single drop of urine from the urine pipe. And in those cases, the urine is diverted in an emergency, and later, the various ways of treating stricture are discussed with the patient. So stricture urethra is very common in the present scenario because of various instrumentation. The patient has to undergo either the surgery of the prostate or the surgery of a bladder stone, even for the ureteric stone.

Another cause of a stricture urethra is urethral injury, in the form of a road traffic accident or any injury to the perineum, which leads to damage of the blood supply in one of the particular regions, either the bulb or in the region of the prostate, and the bulb leading to damage to the urine pipe or complete disruption of the urine pipe.

Urethral stricture is most commonly caused by the presence of inflammation in the tissues or the presence of scar tissues. The main causes of developing scar tissue are:

• Injury or accidental trauma
• Injury in the pelvic area
• Previous urethra injuries (surgeries/cystoscopy)
• Previous prostate surgery
• Enlargement of prostate
• Urethra Cancer
• Prostatitis caused by inflammation of the prostate
• Hypospadias surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Infection

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Urethral Stricture?

A weak urine stream is the most typical symptom of a urethral stricture. Signs of the poor stream are dribbling at the end of urination, painful and forceful urination, and frequent cases of UTI. Also, one may face inflammation of the prostate, resulting in prostatitis. Worst cases present with AUR, or acute urinary retention, where one is unable to pass urine. Thus, if not treated timely, it may go up to the kidneys and lead to hydronephrosis or renal failure. Other symptoms may include a more frequent urge to urinate or pain in the lower abdomen.

Urethral Stricture can be asymptomatic, i.e., have no symptoms at all, reaching to mild symptoms, like urinal retention. Here are a few signs of urethral symptoms:

• Urinal Flow Retention
• Dribbling of urine
• Painful passing of urine
• Bleeding in urine
• Double-streaming urine
• Discharge of Urethra
• Bladder Stone

What are the Urethroplasty Surgery Steps?

The urethroplasty procedure is done via several different ways mentioned below, depending upon the severity of the urethral stricture. The treatment of urethral stricture depends upon the length and severity of it, and it varies from person to person.

Diagnosis of Urethral Stricture

1. Firstly, an ultrasound is done to see how much urine the patient is able to pass in an act of micturition.

2. Then uroflowmetry is done, and a graphical presentation of the urine flow of the patient is done.

3. The third thing that is done is a retrograde urethrogram, in which contrast or a die is passed from the tip of the urine pipe and goes all the way up to the bladder. An X-ray is taken to see where exactly the stricture is, how long the stricture is, and how thin the stricture is.

Some of the treatments for urethral stricture are listed below:

1. Nonsurgical Urethral Stricture Treatment

In this kind of urethral stricture treatment, the urethra is widened using medical equipment known as a dilator. The surgeon passes small wiring through the urethra passage leading towards the bladder, where the dilation begins. Larger dilators are used to increase the narrowing. Another nonsurgical option for urethral stricture treatment is permanent urinary catheter placement. This procedure is carried out when the condition of the urethral stricture is very critical and the risks are also very serious.

2. Urethroplasty Surgery (Urethral reconstruction surgery)

Urethroplasty surgery is a surgical type of treatment done to treat several urethral strictures. The surgeon makes an incision after employing anaesthesia. Direct vision internal urethrotomy is an endoscopic procedure whereby an endoscope is inserted into the urethra to see the stricture. The surgeon uses a small knife, which is passed through the endoscope. The knife makes a cut in the affected area, i.e., urethral stricture, and widens the urethral opening. Their urethra is then reconstructed. This method of urethroplasty is therefore also called urethral reconstruction surgery.

3. Urine Flow Diversion

In this type of treatment, due to the blocked passage of urine, sometimes urinary diversion is needed. The flow of the urine is permanently rerouted to an opening in the abdomen. A small part of the intestines is used as a medium to connect the ureters to the urethral opening. Urinary flow diversion is carried out when the bladder has become dysfunctional and needs a powerful treatment before any more harm to the body is caused.

What are the Types of Urethroplasty in India?

In the past, various endoscopic treatments were used in the form of cutting the stricture, directing the stricture, or using lasers to open the stricture. But, when the studies have been done on the failure rate, it is almost 80 to 90%, or a period of 4 to 5 years. So most of the patients who come to us with stricture urethra, we always tell them, the best option or the best treatment with the best result is open surgery, which is known as urethroplasty.

Here are some types of urethroplasty surgery listed below:

1. Bulbar Urethroplasty

So there are various types of urethroplasty that can be done. If the stricture is because of the instrumentation or infection and it is present from the tip to the prostatic region or the proximal bulb, this area is known as a bulb. So in this case, we have to assess how long the stricture is and how dense the stricture is. And accordingly, we can decide whether we have to go with one side buccal. Because of this, we have to use various grafts either from the buccal mucosa or from the skin behind the ear. We can use the skin patch or the buccal mucosa patch to widen up this urine pipe. And then we just separate onto the surface, and so the pipe becomes larger, and then the patient can have a good urine flow.

2. Anastomotic Urethroplasty

If it’s a traumatic stricture leading to complete disruption or complete blockage of the urine pipe, then the treatment is done by removing that scar or the bad tissue and then joining the two normal ends. This procedure is known as anastomotic urethroplasty. The results are very good if done by a skilled reconstructive urologist at a centre that is dealing with a good number of stricture urethra or urethral injuries.

Anastomotic urethroplasty, or EPA urethroplasty, is a technique in which a part of the bulbar urethra between the scrotum and the prostate gland is removed. Then, the two cut ends of the urethra are sutured together. Generally, anastomotic urethroplasty surgery is used when the stricture is short and deep near the prostate gland.

3. Tyomorphic Urethroplasty (Balloon-induced Meatoplasty and Glandular Urethroplasty)

Graft urethroplasty, also known as BMG urethroplasty, is a method used for longer strictures. It constructs or flaps the inside lining of the cheeks to reconstruct the urethra after clearing the scar tissue. Also, urethroplasty surgeons sometimes use extra-genital skin as a graft due to complications in donor sites like skin diseases or malignancies. diseases.

4. Penile Flap Urethroplasty

In penile flap urethroplasty, the surgeon takes a part of the skin and reconstructs the urethra's structure. This type is chosen when stricture is present in the penile urethra. The constricted stream is removed, and the flap reduplicates the destroyed area.

5. Staged Urethroplasty

This urethroplasty procedure in India is conducted in two stages For all complicated structures. First, fibre tissue is excised, and the place is filled with grafts. Following healing, a second operation reconstructs the graft as a tube for urethra repair.

6. Perineal Urethrostomy

In complicated cases, a permanent opening is developed behind the scrotum through perineal urethrostomy. This option is selected for elderly patients and provides long-lasting results along with minimal recovery time.

7. Buccal Mucosa Urethroplasty Surgery

BAUM is an operative technique to treat urethral stricture diseases. A urethral stricture is a lesion of the urinary channel that can reoccur after less aggressive interventions. Also, buccal mucosa urethroplasty surgery uses the buccal mucosa found in the cheeks. The surgery harvests tissue, usually five to seven centimetres on one side. The recovery is completed in 4 to 5 days, but often there may be some swelling issues and speech disturbances. Such a urethroplasty procedure in India can significantly improve the normal urinary process.

Best Urethroplasty Surgeons in India

CureIndia helps you choose the best urethroplasty surgeons in India for your medical treatment. Most of the doctors in our associated hospitals have been internationally trained and are active members of many international medical councils and associations. Let's hear from some of the most reputed doctors for urethroplasty in India.

1. Dr. Gautam Banga

2. Dr. Vineet Malhotra

3. Dr. Vijayant Govinda Gupta

What is the Urethroplasty Surgery Cost in India?

In India, urethroplasty surgery costs range between 2,500 USD and 6,500 USD. It depends on one or more factors, like the patient’s physical status during the procedure, the type of surgery, and the healthcare facility. However, the commitment of healthcare professionals to enhance results heightens the standard of the treatment. There are many urologists in India, and they are rewarded with national as well as international recognition for their work. Thus, India offers way more reasonable urethroplasty surgery than most countries, at least half the cost, without deteriorating the quality.

What is the Effect of Urethroplasty on Sexual Wellbeing?

Patients with the problem of urethral stricture usually have this question: whether the urethroplasty will have any impact on sexual desire or sexual liability or not.

So, for their clarification, urethroplasty is the treatment of a urine pipe only, and the erection part deals with the corpus cavernosum, which remains intact; we don’t touch that. So the patient retains his ability to have a normal erection, and they can live a normal sexual life post-urethroplasty. And they can father a child, and there will be no issues related to erectile dysfunction or infertility.

Urethroplasty is one of the safest ways to treat urethral stricture, with a success rate in the range of 85 to 90 percent at the centres that are doing a higher volume of this surgery.

What are the Success Rates of Urethroplasty?

The success rate with urethroplasty is very high, and patients can live a normal life without any dilatation or instrumentation in the future with the help of urethroplasty.

CureIndia is associated with the top urologists and andrologists in the country for the treatment of urethral stricture by urethroplasty procedure. Patients from across the world approach us for treatment in India, and we try our best to provide the best healthcare services in India to them. That's what makes us one of the leading online platforms in India for medical treatment.

Urethroplasty Surgery FAQs