Sonographically guided removal of a double J ureteral stent in an infant

A 2-month-old male infant with a prenatally diagnosed obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction underwent a dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty. A transanastomotic double J ureteral stent was placed between the renal pelvis and the urinary bladder. This report describes the subsequent removal of the double J ureteral stent from the patient's urinary bladder without the aid of a cystoscope: a rigid biopsy forceps was introduced trans-urethrally into the urinary bladder, and the stent was removed with sonographic guidance. Removal of a ureteral stent with sonographic guidance has not been previously reported in infants. This technique may be particularly useful in developing countries, where appropriate-sized cystoscopes and accessories may not be available.