What Is Genitourinary Reconstruction?
Genitourinary reconstruction provides patients with common and unusual lower urinary tract and genital illnesses, abnormalities, and anomalies with tailored and sophisticated surgical treatment choices. Patients are mostly male adolescents and adults, although some female patients who require abdominopelvic reconstructive surgery or treatment for congenital genitourinary system disorders as they enter adolescence and adulthood are also included.
The genitourinary tract is the most commonly impacted system by congenital abnormalities. Furthermore, people who are born with these issues subsequently develop normal age-related urological disorders such as prostate enlargement and prostate cancer, which are, therefore, more difficult to treat as a result of their past condition or prior procedures.
What Is Male Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery?
Male genitourinary reconstructive surgery is used to address obstructive scar tissue in the urethra, which can cause urinary symptoms such as difficulties urinating. Post-procedure urine leakage, urethral damage, and fistulas can be treated with reconstructive surgery.
What Are the Conditions That Can Be Treated with Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery?
-
Urethral damage.
-
Incontinence of the bladder.
-
Buried penis.
-
Adult hypospadias repairs that failed.
-
Urethral constriction.
-
Fistula of the urethra.
-
Urethral damage as a result of pelvic fracture and trauma.
What Are the Reasons for Genitourinary Reconstruction?
Numerous reconstructive treatments may be indicated if a considerable amount of tissue in the reproductive and pelvic areas is lost due to illness, infection, unexpected trauma, or an existing anomaly that has to be addressed to enhance the quality of life. With a disorder like pelvic organ prolapse (POP), the pressure from misplaced organs can cause the vagina to dislocate or tear tissues that must be repaired. Following therapy, males with lower urinary tract diseases such as urethral strictures and urinary fistulas may require repair surgery. Cancer that originates in or damages the penis and testicles may necessitate reconstructive surgery. Because of congenital and urological disorders, both men and women might develop urine incontinence or sexual dysfunction over time.
One or more of the following structures may be involved in genitourinary reconstruction:
-
Vagina.
-
Ovaries.
-
Uterus.
-
Perineum.
-
Fallopian tubes.
-
Ureters.
-
Kidneys.
-
Urinary bladder.
-
Urethra.
What Are the Types of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery?
Most pelvic reconstructive surgeries utilize a combination of skin grafts, oral mucosal grafts, and muscular flaps. Tissues from the gut are employed in some surgeries to build new urinary structures. Other approaches involve various methods of reconnecting structures. For example, urethral reconstruction may entail removing the damaged portion of the urethra and reattaching the remaining portion of the tube to the normal ends. Other times, a different route to allow urine to escape the body is required as part of reconstructive surgery.
How Is Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery Performed?
The location of the damaged structures will determine the particular surgical method. Some treatments are carried out through incisions in the lower abdominal or pelvic region. In rare cases, the damaged region may be reached through the vagina or, in men, the area located between the scrotum and the anus. A more recent technique for genitourinary repair involves surgery with the help of a robotic device directed by the surgeon's hand motions.
What Post-Surgery Care Need to Be Followed?
Even when minimally invasive treatments are utilized, there will be a recovery time with restricted activities and post-surgery medicines to alleviate discomfort. Certain forms of physical treatment can help some people strengthen their pelvic muscles. The precise structures involved will determine the outcome of genitourinary reconstruction. For example, if bladder reconstruction is involved, it may be necessary to use a catheter or pee differently after the treatment. Because of the complexity of genitourinary reconstruction, it is frequently suggested to consider undergoing surgery in stages rather than all at once to reduce risks and enable tissues to recover between surgeries. A urologist may recommend egg freezing and pre-surgical sperm preservation for those wishing to conceive or produce children due to potential difficulties with reproductive functioning after reconstructive surgery.
How Is Genitourinary Reconstruction Done in Children?
Some children are born with or acquire genitourinary system issues, which include the kidneys, bladder, and reproductive organs. When this occurs, several treatments and fixes are available to assist them in leading healthy lives. This includes genitourinary (GU) reconstruction, the surgical modification or repair of the genitourinary tract. The following are some of the most prevalent genitourinary tract disorders that can be improved by genitourinary reconstruction.
-
Bladder Exstrophy:
Bladder exstrophy is an uncommon congenital birth disease caused by the improper formation of the bladder and abdominal wall. The bladder is open and visible on the abdomen for kids born with this disease. The urethra and genitals (clitoris in females and head of the penis in men) are also divided in half.
-
Bladder Augmentation:
Bladders are designed to hold pee at low pressure until it is time to empty the bladder. Bladder augmentation (or expansion) may be required when bladders are too small or have too much pressure, which can cause kidney injury. In bladder augmentation surgery, a section of the digestive tract is removed and put on the bladder to expand it. A flexible tube placed through a tiny aperture must be catheterized to empty the bladder. A channel is frequently built at the same time.
-
Procedures for Bladder Neck:
Some disorders cause a child's bladder neck, which joins the bladder to the urethra, to become weak or open. This can lead to urine leaks. There are a few surgical methods available to solve this. Sometimes, a filler substance or an artificial urethral sphincter (the muscle that regulates how the ureter opens and shuts) is implanted.
Conclusion:
The urine channel in the lower part of the male urinary system will be healed, allowing patients to continue regular daily tasks and live a healthy life. These treatments may include bed rest, medicines, and reconstructive procedures to restore structure and function to injured members, depending on the source, location, and degree of the injuries.
