Trans-Urethral Ureteral Stent Replacement Technique (TRUST): 10-Year Experience in 1168 Patients

Abstract

Objectives: To affirm technical success, clinical success and safety of fluoroscopically guided transurethral replacement of double-J (DJ) ureteral stents.

Methods: From January 2005 to December 2015, in a follow-up period ranging from 9 to 73 months, we replaced 6167 DJ ureteral stents in 3221 procedures in 1168 patients. All the procedures were performed in the angiography suite under fluoroscopic control.

Results: Technical success was achieved in 97.5% of the procedures. In eighty procedures, cystoscopic approach was necessary; time from previous procedure and side were significantly associated with technical success. Clinical success was reached in 95.7% of the procedures and was significantly lower in urological and gynaecological tumours (when compared to fibrosis and other causes) and in bilateral stents. No major complications were reported. In 90 cases, self-limiting transient minor haematuria occurred and in 160 procedures urinary tract infection responding to antibiotics were registered. Overall procedure time was 27 min. Mean fluoroscopic time was 6 min and 45 s. Mean radiation dose of the procedure was 38.40 Gy cm².

Conclusions: In patients that need routine replacement of DJ ureteral stent, transurethral fluoroscopically guided method may be the first choice; only in few cases of technical failure, cystoscopy may be considered.

Keywords: Fluoroscopy; Ureter; Ureteral catheters; Ureteral neoplasms; Ureteral obstruction.