[Antirreflux ureteral catheters.]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Double-J ureteral stents are associated with significant patient side effects (up to 90%), primarily due to their design and material composition.
• Vesicoureteral reflux and bladder trigone irritation are key factors contributing to ureteral stent morbidity.
• Existing stent designs often lead to complications, necessitating the development of improved anti-reflux alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development and evaluation of anti-reflux ureteral stent designs.
• To assess novel stent prototypes aimed at reducing vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and associated complications.
• To highlight the current gap in clinical evidence for advanced ureteral stent technologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on double-J ureteral stent complications and anti-reflux designs.
• Analysis of early-stage (animal model) evaluations of novel stent prototypes.
• Assessment of the clinical implementation status of new anti-reflux stent technologies.

Main Results:

• Early anti-reflux designs, like those with polymeric membranes, showed some efficacy but lacked statistical significance.
• Recent prototypes, including a valve-attached stent and an intra-ureteral design, demonstrated VUR reduction in animal models.
• Despite promising preclinical results, these advanced designs are not yet standard clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• Current double-J ureteral stent designs contribute to substantial patient morbidity.
• Novel anti-reflux stent designs offer potential solutions to reduce complications like VUR.
• Further clinical trials and scientific evidence are required to support the adoption of these innovative stents in healthcare settings.