Bladder neck contracture as a complication of prostate surgery: Alternative treatment methods and prospects (literature review)

Bladder neck contracture (BNC) is one of the most common complications of surgical treatment of prostate diseases. The rate of postoperative BNC varies depending on the type of surgical treatment used. The options for treatment techniques for BNC can vary from endoscopic interventions to complex (abdominal) surgical interventions. This review evaluates various alternative surgical methods of BNC treatment. The search and analysis of publications in the databases PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Cochrane Library, according to the keywords, “bladder neck sclerosis,” “benign prostatic hyperplasia,” “BNC,” “bladder neck stenosis,” “balloon dilation,” “treatment.” As a result, 71 publications were selected and included in this review. In addition to the standard treatment methods in the form of transurethral resection and incision of the bladder neck using electricity and laser energy, the urologist also has alternative methods of treatment, such as balloon dilation, placement of urethral stents, instillation of the bladder or intraoperative injection of cytostatic drugs, hormones, hyaluronic acid derivatives, and biomedical cell products into the bladder neck area. Although transurethral resection is currently the main treatment option for BNC, the recurrence rate after this procedure can reach up to 38%. According to the literature, balloon dilation can be a promising and minimally invasive method of treatment for recurrent BNC. This method can be used as the first stage in the treatment of recurrent contracture deformity. Furthermore, intravesical instillation of various anti-inflammatory drugs and cytostatics can be promising directions in the treatment and prevention of BNC.