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AUA 2017

AUA 2017: Determining Optimal Stent Duration Following Ureteroscopy: 3 VS 7 Days

Boston, MA (UroToday.com) Dr. Nathan Brooks presented data that compared whether there were any differences is postoperative outcomes for patients with a 3 day stent duration compared to patients with a 7 day stent duration after receiving the ureterscopy procedure for nephrolithiasis. As an introduction to his talk, Dr. Brooks explained that the majority of urologists who perform ureteroscopy for nephrolithiasis elect to place a stent. However, little data in the literature exists on the optimal duration to leave a stent in a patient. This is especially important because in many cases indwelling stents are associated with a number of undesirable symptoms.

For this comparison, Dr. Brooks and team retrospectively reviewed 247 patients who received ureteroscopy for nephrolithiasis from 2010 to 2016. Of these patient, only 79 had stent removal at either 3 or 7 days. These 2 groups of patients were analyzed and compared in terms of demographic information, pre-operative variables, and post-operative outcomes.

Following analysis, Dr. Brooks found that 39% of 3-day patient group experienced post-procedure related events (Emergency department visit, hospital call, and clinic visit) compared to 21% in the 7-day patient group. Additionally, the 3-day patient group was significantly more likely to have a post-procedure related event than 7-day patient group and there was a trend towards more frequently reported flank pain in 3-day patient group as well. There was no difference seen between the 3-day and 7day patient groups in clinically insignificant stone fragments, post-operative hydronephrosis, or hospital readmissions.

Dr. Brooks concluded that leaving a stent for 3-days versus 7-days does not result in improved outcomes and may instead lead to worse outcomes with regard to post-operative events and flank pain. This was especially seen in the 3 day patient group following stent removal.

Presented By: Nathan Brooks

Authors: Charles Paul, Nathan Brooks, George Ghareeb, Chad Tracy

Affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Written By: Renai Yoon, MD, Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine

at the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA