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Use of self-expanding permanent endoluminal stents for benign ureteral strictures: mid-term results
1Department of Urology, General Hospital Wels, Austria.
Purpose:
Benign ureteral strictures constitute a therapeutic dilemma, especially in patients unable to undergo an open operative procedure. We report on 13 patients with benign ureteral strictures treated with endoscopic implantation of self-expanding permanent endoluminal stents.
Materials And Methods:
Endoscopic implantation was done using the Wallstent in 4 patients, the Memotherm stent in 5 and the Sinus stent in 4. The technique of implantation followed the standardized procedure that we described in 1995.
Results:
Mean followup was 41.6 months. Primary patency (ureters patent since implantation) was achieved in 7 patients and assisted patency (additional intervention) was noted in 5. In 1 case the kidney had to be removed because of progressive malfunction.
Conclusions:
Implantation of self-expanding permanent endoluminal stents for benign ureteral strictures is safe, effective and minimally invasive in select cases. Additional studies and long-term results are needed to make definitive conclusions about this method.