Does a Ureteral Stent with a Smaller Diameter Reduce Stent-Related Bladder Irritation? A Single-Blind, Randomized,...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Device Technology
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Ureteral stents are commonly used after procedures like ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS).
• These stents can cause significant patient discomfort and affect quality of life.
• Comparing different stent sizes is crucial for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and stent-related symptom scores between 5F and 6F ureteral stents.
• To evaluate patient-reported outcomes, including pain and urinary symptoms, after URS.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, controlled, multicenter study involving 110 patients.
• Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a 5F or 6F ureteral stent post-URS.
• The Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) was used to assess symptoms at 2-3 weeks.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in body pain or analgesic usage between the 5F and 6F stent groups.
• Patients with 5F ureteral stents reported significantly fewer urinary symptoms compared to the 6F group.
• No instances of postoperative hydronephrosis were observed in either group.

Conclusions:

• 5F ureteral stents may lead to fewer urinary symptoms than 6F stents.
• Smaller diameter ureteral stents could potentially reduce stent-related morbidities.
• Optimizing ureteral stent size can improve patient quality of life after URS.