Local ointment application after repair of urethra: histopathological evaluation

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TV and HV applications in the surgical repair of urethrocutaneous fistula following primary repair (PR) according to macroscopic and histopathological findings in rats.

Materials and methods: Thirty-two Wistar Albino rats were divided into four equal groups and urethrocutaneous fistulas were created in all rats experimentally. In group P, only primary repair was performed on the rats. In group T TV ointment was applied following primary repair, and in group H HV ointment was applied to the repair regions once a day for 21 days following primary repair. In control group, no surgical repair was performed and urethrocutaneous fistula was left to spontaneous healing. The rats were then sacrificed after 21 days and penectomy materials of all groups were examined.

Results: The absence of inflammation, fibrosis, necrosis, hyperemia, foreign material reaction and fistula, and the presence of neovascularization and the integrity of intraluminal and extraluminal epithelium were regarded as the healing criteria for histopathological parameters. According to scoring system, where a point was allocated to each parameter and when the healing criteria was considered, a pattern such that T=H>P>C, from good to bad, was determined. Neither hyperemia nor inflammation was observed in groups T and H. However, no significant difference was determined between groups T and H, and group P according to the total score.

Conclusion: The findings of this study reflect that local applications of TV and HV ointments may play a partial role in some parts of the healing process after urethrocutaneous fistula repair.