Predictive Value of Penile Dynamic Colour Duplex Doppler Ultrasound Parameters in Patients with Post-Traumatic Urethral Stricture

Abstract

This study evaluated dynamic colour duplex Doppler ultrasound (D-CDDU) for the assessment of erectile function in patients with post-traumatic urethral stricture. In total, 44 patients with urethral stricture secondary to trauma were recruited between January 2009 and June 2010. Peak systolic velocity of the cavernosal artery was measured before and after intracavernosal injection (ICI) of 20 mg papaverine and 1 mg phentolamine. Cavernosal artery end-diastolic velocity and resistance index (RI) were evaluated after ICI. Patients with RI ≥ 0.8 had significantly shorter strictures than those with RI < 0.8 after ICI only in cases of posterior urethral stricture. Patients with RI ≥ 0.8 were significantly younger than those with RI < 0.8. Urethral stricture length was negatively correlated with RI ( r = −0.375). Cavernosal artery RI after ICI is a reliable predictor of erectile function in patients with urethral stricture, especially posterior stricture. The patient's age should be considered when using this parameter.