Dr. Surya Prakash Vaddi, in collaboration with Japan’s JBM Inc., develops a novel treatment method for male urethral stricture.

Dr. Suryaprakash Vaddi in collaboration with the Japanese urologists at Japanese biomaterial technology evaluates a novel and relatively painless treatment for male urethral stricture – Buccal epithelium Expanded and Encapsulated in Scaffold – Hybrid Approach for Urethral Stricture (BEES-HAUS technique). The technique makes use of the regenerative capabilities of the buccal mucosa.

Male urethral stricture is a condition where the contraction of the urethra slows the flow of urine. Mostly,  male urethral strictures are caused due to  BPH surgery or prostate cancer. In India, it is estimated that 4 to 10 per 1,000 have this condition. It is mostly seen in men over 50 years of age. In the younger age group, it is caused due to underlying illness, infections, trauma or inflammation of the body. Dr. Vaddi explained, “The major cause of this stricture is inflammation and trauma. But in 30 percent of the patients, the cause of the contraction is unknown. The contraction is in the urethra which is a tube from the bladder to the urinary opening in the penis. When it gets narrowed the condition is called stricture urethra. Patients then have a very slow passage of urine which is painful. Frequent bathroom visits, uncomfortable feeling, and heavy bladder all the time are some of the common complaints.”

So far, the condition was treated with an open surgery or an endoscopic intervention. These procedures have increased the risk of restenosis in up to 40% of the patients. With the innovation of BEES-HAUS technique, patients can now be treated without the risk of restenosis and without the need for sedation or an extensive surgery. The treatment makes use of the patient’s own buccal mucosal cells which are processed in the form of a scaffold to be transplanted to enlarge the narrowed urethra. In the study, four out of six patients showed positive outcomes. The study has been published in International Journal of Urology (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/iju.13852), the official journal of the Japanese Urological Association.

BEES-HAUS, an illustrative overview of the steps from tissue harvest to cell transplant for urethral stricture and a glimpse of the results (Graphic: Business Wire)

Dr. Vaddi explained, “Earlier the procedure required open surgery, but, the new procedure is relatively painless. It is done using the buccal mucosal cells from the body and harvesting them in laboratories. The cells are then used to enlarge the urethra.” 

In the BEES-HAUS technique, a small piece of the buccal tissue and after culturing the cells in the lab without animal protein, embedded in a scaffold and transplanted through endoscopy. The patient does not require general anesthesia either during harvesting or transplant. Thus, the procedure relatively is easier for the clinician and less painful to the patient.  The transplantation is using local anesthesia in the lower abdomen.

GN Corporation, which has coordinated the interaction between Japanese biomaterial scientists and clinicians in India through NCRM (Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine), has applied for a patent for this invention and has signed a MoU for collaboration with JBM Inc, Tokyo, Japan, for exploring opportunities to make this an approved clinical solution in the future following the regulatory protocols as per Japanese ministry of health.

About Doctor –

Dr. Surya Prakash Vaddi, Consultant Urologist

MS (Gen Surgery), M.Ch (Urology), DNB (Urology), FRCSED, D.Lap – University of Strasbourg, France

Dr. Surya Prakash Vaddi is specialized in treatment for stricture urethra disease & urolithiasis, laparoscopic urology, advanced endourology, uro-oncology, reconstructive urology & laser treatment for prostate enlargement.