The forgotten ureteral stent in children: From diagnosis to treatment - Abstract

PURPOSE: Our aim was to shed light on forgotten ureteral stents (FUS) neglected issue by presenting the outcomes of a multicentered study in pediatric age group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2007 and March 2012, a total of 22 patients with unintentionally forgotten in situ encrusted DJ stents were treated at four centers. Stone burdens were estimated both on plain radiography and computerized tomography. Treatment decision was made based on clinical and radiological findings or stone burden.

RESULTS: Nine girls and 13 boys with a mean age of 9.5 (range: 2-16 yrs) years were analyzed. Mean indwelling time of ureteral stents was 21.7 months (6-60 months). Stents were inserted with the indications of urolithiasis (n=17), and reconstructive urological interventions (n=5). In 2 patients DJSs had been placed bilaterally. Mean stent stone burden were 184 mm2 on plain radiography, and 247 mm2 on computerized tomography with a statistically significant difference between them (p=0.002). Shock wave lithotripsy was done in 6 cases. Endoscopic procedures were performed in all patients as follows: ureteroscopy= 8, simple stent stent removal= 7, endoscopic cystolithotripsy = 6, percutaneous nephrolithotomy= 5, retrograde intrarenal surgery=3, and percutaneous cystolithotripsy= 2. Surgical removal of each stent required a mean 1.5 interventions with a mean hospital stay of 4.4 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Even in the pediatric age group, in experienced centers, combined endourologic techniques can achieve successful and safe management of forgotten stents. We think that routine preoprocedural tomography is a must in children with FUS.

Written by:
Sancaktutar AA, Adanur S, Reşorlu B, Tepeler A, Ziypak T, Söylemez H, Atar M, Bozkurt Y, Penbegül N, Tüfek A, Yavuz S.   Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.

Reference: J Urol. 2012 Sep 25. pii: S0022-5347(12)04984-1.
doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.09.089


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23022000

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