Surgical Anatomy Part 41

Fig. 9, Plate 58, represents the form of an old callous stricture half an inch long, situated midway between the bulb and the meatus. This is perhaps the most common site in which a stricture of this kind is found to exist. In some instances of old neglected cases the corpus spongiosum appears converted into a thick gristly cartilaginous ma.s.s, several inches in extent, the pa.s.sage here being very much contracted, and chiefly so at the middle of the stricture. When it becomes impossible to dilate or pa.s.s the ca.n.a.l of such a stricture by the ordinary means, it is recommended to divide the part by the lancetted stilette. (Stafford.) Division of the stricture, by any means, is no doubt the readiest and most effectual measure that can be adopted, provided we know clearly that the cutting instrument engages fairly the part to be divided. But this is a knowledge less likely to be attained if the stricture be situated behind than in front of the triangular ligament.

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Plate 58.--Figure 9.

Fig. 10, Plate 58, exhibits a lateral view of the muscular parts which surround the membranous portion of the urethra and the prostate; a, the membranous urethra embraced by the compressor urethrae muscle; b, the levator prostatae muscle; c, the prostate; d, the anterior ligament of the bladder.

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Plate 58.--Figure 10.

Fig. 11, Plate 58.--A posterior view of the parts seen in Fig. 10; a, the urethra divided in front of the prostate; b b, the levator prostatae muscle; c c, the compressor urethrae; d d, parts of the obturator muscles; e e, the anterior fibres of the levator ani muscle; f g, the triangular ligament enclosing between its layers the artery of the bulb, Cowper's glands, the membranous urethra, and the muscular parts surrounding this portion of the ca.n.a.l. The fact that the flow of urine through the urethra happens occasionally to be suddenly arrested, and this circ.u.mstance contrasted with the opposite fact that the organic stricture is of slow formation, originated the idea that the former occurrence arose from a spasmodic muscular contraction. By many this spasm was supposed to be due to the urethra being itself muscular. By others, it was demonstrated as being dependent upon the muscles which surround the membranous part of the urethra, and which act upon this part and constrict it. From my own observations I have formed the settled opinion that the urethra itself is not muscular. And though, on the one hand, I believe that this ca.n.a.l, per se, never causes by active contraction the spasmodic form of stricture, I am far from supposing, on the other, that all sudden arrests to the pa.s.sage of urine through the urethra are solely attributable to spasm of the muscles which embrace this ca.n.a.l.

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Plate 58.--Figure 11.

COMMENTARY ON PLATES 59 & 60.

THE VARIOUS FORMS AND POSITIONS OF STRICTURES AND OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS OF THE URETHRA.--FALSE Pa.s.sAGES.--ENLARGEMENTS AND DEFORMITIES OF THE PROSTATE.

Impediments to the pa.s.sage of the urine through the urethra may arise from different causes, such as the impaction of a small calculus in the ca.n.a.l, or any morbid growth (a polypus, &c.) being situated therein, or from an abscess which, though forming externally to the urethra, may press upon this tube so as either to obstruct it partially, by bending one of its sides towards the other, or completely, by surrounding the ca.n.a.l on all sides. These causes of obstruction may happen in any part of the urethra, but there are two others (the prostatic and the spasmodic) which are, owing to anatomical circ.u.mstances, necessarily confined to the posterior two-thirds of the urethra. The portion of the urethra surrounded by the prostate can alone be obstructed by this body when it has become irregularly enlarged, while the spasmodic stricture can only happen to the membranous portion of the urethra, and to an inch or two of the ca.n.a.l anterior to the bulb, these being the parts which are embraced by muscular structures. The urethra itself not being muscular, cannot give rise to the spasmodic form of stricture. But that kind of obstruction which is common to all parts of the urethra, and which is dependent, as well upon the structures of which the ca.n.a.l is uniformly composed, as upon the circ.u.mstance that inflammation may attack these in any situation and produce the same effect, is the permanent or organic stricture. Of this disease the forms are as various as the situations are, for as certainly as it may reasonably be supposed that the plastic lymph, effused in an inflamed state of the urethra from any cause, does not give rise to stricture of any special or particular form, exclusive of all others; so as certainly may it be inferred that, in a structurally uniform ca.n.a.l, inflammation points to no one particular place of it, whereat by preference to establish the organic stricture. The membranous part of the ca.n.a.l is, however, mentioned as being the situation most p.r.o.ne to the disease; but I have little doubt, nevertheless, that owing to general rules of this kind being taken for granted, upon imposing authority, many more serious evils (false pa.s.sages, &c.) have been effected by catheterism than existed previous to the performance of this operation.[Footnote]

[Footnote: Home describes "a natural constriction of the urethra, directly behind the bulb, which is probably formed with a power of contraction to prevent," &c. This is the part which he says is "most liable to the disease of stricture." (Strictures of the Urethra.) Now, if anyone, even among the acute observing microscopists, can discern the structure to which Home alludes, he will certainly prove this anatomist to be a marked exception amongst those who, for the enforcement of any doctrine, can see any thing or phenomenon they wish to see. And, if Hunter were as the mirror from which Home's mind was reflected, then the observation must be imputed to the Great Original. Upon the question, however, as to which is the most frequent seat of stricture, I find that both these anatomists do not agree, Hunter stating that its usual seat is just in front of the bulb, while Home regrets, as it were, to be obliged to differ from "his immortal friend," and avers its seat to be an infinitesimal degree behind the bulb. Sir A. Cooper again, though arguing that the most usual situation of stricture is that mentioned by Hunter, names, as next in order of frequency, strictures of the membranous and prostatic parts of the urethra. Does it not appear strange now, how questions of this import should have occupied so much of the serious attention of our great predecessors, and of those, too, who at the present time form the vanguard of the ranks of science? Upon what circ.u.mstance, either anatomical or pathological, can one part of the urethra be more liable to the organic stricture than another?]

Figs. 1 and 2, Plate 59.--In these figures are presented seven forms of organic stricture occurring, in different parts of the urethra. In a, Fig. 1, the mucous membrane is thrown into a sharp circular fold, in the centre of which the ca.n.a.l, appears much contracted; a section of this stricture appears in b, Fig. 2. In b, Fig. 1, the ca.n.a.l is contracted laterally by a prominent fold of the mucous membrane at the opposite side. In c, Fig. 1, an organized band of lymph is stretched across the ca.n.a.l; this stricture is seen in section in c, Fig. 2. In e, Fig. 1, a stellate band of organized lymph, attached by pedicles to three sides of the urethra, divides the ca.n.a.l into three pa.s.sages. In d, Fig. 1, the ca.n.a.l is seen to be much contracted towards the left side by a crescentic fold of the lining membrane projecting from the right. In f, the ca.n.a.l appears contracted by a circular membrane, perforated in the centre; a section of which is seen at a, Fig. 2. The form of the organic stricture varies therefore according to the three following circ.u.mstances:--1st. When lymph becomes effused within the ca.n.a.l upon the surface of the lining mucous membrane, and contracts adhesions across the ca.n.a.l. 2ndly. When lymph is effused external to the lining membrane, and projects this inwards, thereby narrowing the diameter of the ca.n.a.l. 3rdly. When the outer and inner walls of a part of the urethra are involved in the effused organizable matter, and on contracting towards each other, encroach at the same time upon the area of the ca.n.a.l. This latter state presents the form, which is known as the old callous tough stricture, extending in many instances for an inch or more along the ca.n.a.l. In cases where the urethra becomes obstructed by tough bands of substance, c e, which cross the ca.n.a.l directly, the points of flexible catheters, especially if these be of slender shape, are apt to be bent upon the resisting part, and on pressure being continued, the operator may be led to suppose that the instrument traverses the stricture, while it is most probably perforating the wall of the urethra. But in those cases where the diameter of the ca.n.a.l is circularly contracted, the stricture generally presents a conical depression in front, which, receiving the point of the instrument, allows this to enter the central pa.s.sage unerringly. A stricture formed by a crescentic septum, such as is seen in b d, Fig. 1, offers a more effectual obstacle to the pa.s.sage of a catheter than the circular septum like a f.

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Plate 59.--Figure 1, Figure 2.

Fig. 3, Plate 59.--In this there are seen three separate strictures, a, b, c, situated in the urethra, anterior to the bulb. In some cases there are many more strictures (even to the number of six or seven) situated in various parts of the urethra; and it is observed that when one stricture exists, other slight tightnesses in different parts of the ca.n.a.l frequently attend it. (Hunter.) When several strictures occur in various parts of the urethra, they may occasion as much difficulty in pa.s.sing an instrument as if the whole ca.n.a.l between the extreme constrictions were uniformly narrowed.

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Plate 59.--Figure 3.

Fig. 4, Plate 59.--In this the ca.n.a.l is constricted at the point a, midway between the bulb and glans. A false pa.s.sage has been made under the urethra by an instrument which pa.s.sed out of the ca.n.a.l at the point f, anterior to the stricture a, and re-entered the ca.n.a.l at the point c, anterior to the bulb. When a false pa.s.sage of this kind happens to be made, it will become a permanent outlet for the urine, so long as the stricture remains. For it can be of no avail that we avoid re-opening the anterior perforation by the catheter, so long as the urine prevented from flowing by the natural ca.n.a.l enters the posterior perforation.

Measures should be at once taken to remove the stricture.

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Plate 59.--Figure 4.

Fig. 5, Plate 59.--The stricture a appears midway between the bulb and glans, the area of the pa.s.sage through the stricture being sufficient only to admit a bristle to pa.s.s. It would seem almost impossible to pa.s.s a catheter through a stricture so close as this, unless by a laceration of the part, combined with dilatation.

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Plate 59.--Figure 5.

Fig. 6, Plate 59.--Two instruments, a, b, have made false pa.s.sages beneath the mucous membrane, in a case where no stricture at all existed. The resistance which the instruments encountered in pa.s.sing out of the ca.n.a.l having been mistaken, no doubt, for that of pa.s.sing through a close stricture.

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Plate 59.--Figure 6.

Fig. 7, Plate 59.--A bougie, b b, is seen to perforate the urethra anterior to the stricture c, situated an inch behind the glans, and after traversing the substance of the right corpus cavernosum d, for its whole length, re-enters the neck of the bladder through the body of the prostate.

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Plate 59.--Figure 7.

Fig. 8, Plate 59.--A bougie, c c, appears tearing and pa.s.sing beneath the lining membrane, d d, of the prostatic urethra. It is remarked that the origin of a false pa.s.sage is in general anterior to the stricture.

It may, however, occur at any part of the ca.n.a.l in which no stricture exists, if the hand that impels the instrument be not guided by a true knowledge of the form of the urethra; and perhaps the accident happening from this cause is the more general rule of the two.

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Plate 59.--Figure 8.

Fig. 9, Plate 59.--Two strictures are represented here, the one, e, close to the bulb d, the other, f, an inch anterior to this part. In the prostate, a b, are seen irregularly shaped abscess pits, communicating with each other, and projecting upwards the floor of this body to such a degree, that the prostatic ca.n.a.l appears nearly obliterated.

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Plate 59.--Figure 9.

Fig. 10, Plate 59.--Two bougies, d e, are seen to enter the upper wall of the urethra, c, anterior to the prostate, a b. This accident happens when the handle of a rigid instrument is depressed too soon, with the object of raising its point over the enlarged third lobe of the prostate.

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Plate 59.--Figure 10.

Fig. 11, Plate 59.--Two instruments appear transfixing the prostate, of which body the three lobes, a, b, c, are much enlarged. The instrument d perforates the third lobe, a; while the instrument e penetrates the right lobe, c, and the third lobe, a. This accident occurs when instruments not possessing the proper prostatic bend are forcibly pushed forwards against the resistance at the neck of the bladder.

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Plate 59.--Figure 11.