Ureteral stents in urolithiasis.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Biomaterials Science
• Endourology

Background:

• Ureteral stents, designed with dual curls for stability 40 years ago, are integral to modern urology and endourologic procedures.
• Significant advancements in stent design, coatings, and biomaterials have been pursued over four decades to mitigate stent-related complications.
• Despite innovations, the search for an ideal ureteral stent that completely eliminates patient-related issues remains ongoing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of ureteral stent designs, materials, and coatings.
• To discuss strategies for managing and reducing stent-related symptoms in patients.
• To provide an overview of current research in ureteral stent technology for urolithiasis.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on ureteral stent development over the past 40 years.
• Analysis of studies investigating various stent designs, biomaterials, and coatings.
• Synthesis of research addressing patient complaints associated with ureteral stents.

Main Results:

• The evolution of ureteral stents has focused on improving biocompatibility and reducing complications.
• Various coatings and biomaterials have been explored to minimize infection and encrustation.
• Patient-reported symptoms remain a significant challenge, necessitating further research.

Conclusions:

• Ureteral stent technology has advanced significantly but has not yet achieved an ideal design.
• Continued research into novel materials and patient-centric solutions is essential for improving ureteral stenting.
• Optimizing stent performance and patient comfort in urolithiasis treatment is a key future direction.