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Fluoroscopically guided retrograde replacement of ureteral stents
G Carrafiello1, D Laganà, M Mangini
1Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Insubria, Viale Borri 57, Varese, Italy. gcarraf@tin.it
Purpose:
We assessed the feasibility of fluoroscopically guided transurethral replacement of ureteral stents as an alternative to cystoscopy.
Materials And Methods:
Over the last year, we replaced 27 double-J ureteral stents in 20 patients (10 men and 10 women; mean age 67.7 years, range 43-83); 15/20 patients had a native kidney, 3/20 had a transplanted kidney and 2/20 had a ureteroileal conduit. The procedures were performed in the angiography suite with the patient under sedation. All stents were grasped with a gooseneck snare under fluoroscopic control, and the distal end was withdrawn just outside the urethra; then a wire was advanced through the stent lumen and positioned in the renal pelvis. The stent was then removed and replaced with a new double-J stent.
Results:
The procedures were successful in 26/27 cases. We observed 7 cases of mild haematuria that resolved spontaneously. During follow-up (1-16 months, mean 6.7), stent obstruction occurred in 4 cases, requiring an additional retrograde replacement.
Conclusions:
Transurethral fluoroscopically guided retrograde replacement of dysfunctioning ureteral stents is an effective and safe alternative to cystoscopy.
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Ureters