Ten years prior, Quang underwent brain surgery requiring a long-term catheter. Over time, his urethra (the tube carrying urine from the bladder out of the body) narrowed, causing difficulty urinating.

At Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Doan Ngoc Thien of the Andrology Department, Urology-Nephrology-Andrology Center, diagnosed a 12 cm urethral stricture. The average urethra length is typically 16-20 cm. Left untreated, this condition can impact sexual function and lead to complications such as acute urinary retention, urinary tract infections, hydronephrosis, and cystitis.

Dr. Cao Vinh Duy explained that Quang's foreskin provided sufficient skin for the graft, ensuring a more aesthetically pleasing outcome with fewer complications.

Doctors at the Urology-Nephrology-Andrology Center perform urethral reconstruction surgery on Quang. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctors at the Urology-Nephrology-Andrology Center perform urethral reconstruction surgery on Quang. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Two days post-surgery, Quang recovered and was discharged with his erectile function unaffected. Doctors advised him to seek immediate medical attention if he experiences fever, pain, difficulty urinating, urinary retention, or blood in his urine to prevent further complications.

Urethral strictures often result from scar tissue formation after injuries, infections, other medical conditions, or congenital defects. Depending on the severity and length of the stricture, doctors treat it with dilation, urethrotomy, or reconstructive surgery.

Ha Thanh

*The patient's name has been changed.