REVIEW ON COMPLICATIONS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF METALLIC URINARY STENTS

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Urinary stents (urethral and ureteral) are widely used in urology for treatment and prevention.
• Despite being minimally invasive, urinary stents are associated with high complication rates, up to 100% in some cases.
• Existing reviews often focus on specific stent types or patient groups, leaving a gap in comprehensive complication analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and catalog all published complications of metallic urethral and ureteral stents.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of adverse events associated with these commonly used medical devices.
• To address the need for a consolidated resource on urinary stent complications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search conducted by a dedicated working group within ENIUS (European Network of multidisciplinary research to Improve Urinary Stents).
• Screening and review of published data on stent complications in male urethral and both sexes' ureteral metallic stents.
• Focus on stents used in obstructed urinary systems.

Main Results:

• Cataloging and summarization of reported complications for metallic urethral stents.
• Cataloging and summarization of reported complications for metallic ureteral stents.
• Identification of common and rare adverse events associated with metallic urinary stents.

Conclusions:

• Metallic urethral and ureteral stents are associated with a range of complications that require careful consideration.
• A comprehensive understanding of these complications is crucial for optimizing patient care and device development.
• This review provides a foundational resource for clinicians and researchers investigating urinary stent-related adverse events.