Use of a magnetic double J stent in pediatric patients: A case-control study at two Canadian pediatric centers

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Urology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Medical Device Innovation

Background:

• Ureteral stents with magnetic tips (Blackstar©) are newly approved in Canada.
• Traditional stent procedures in children often require general anesthesia.
• Magnetic stents offer potential benefits including cost savings, reduced operating room time, and decreased anesthetic exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of magnetic ureteral stents in pediatric patients.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of non-anesthetic removal for magnetic stents.
• To compare magnetic stent outcomes with traditional double J stents.

Main Methods:

• A proof-of-concept pilot, case-control study conducted from May 2017 to May 2018.
• Inclusion of pediatric patients undergoing ureteroscopy, ureteric re-implantation, and pyeloplasty.
• Comparison of 40 patients with magnetic stents against 40 control patients with traditional double J stents.

Main Results:

• Successful retrieval of 39 magnetic stents without general anesthesia.
• A low retrieval failure rate of only 2.5% was observed.
• Demonstrated comparable safety and efficacy to traditional ureteral stents.

Conclusions:

• Magnetic ureteral stents are a safe and effective alternative for pediatric patients.
• Non-anesthetic removal is feasible, with traditional cystoscopic removal as a fallback.
• This technology can potentially minimize anesthetic exposure and healthcare costs in pediatric urology.