Stent versus no stent in ureteroneocystostomy in live-related renal transplant: A randomized controlled trial

Ureteric stent decreases urological complications postrenal transplantation, but increases the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). There is no consensus for the placement of a routine ureteric stent following a living donor kidney transplant in adults.

Between January 2018 and October 2019, 100 living donor renal transplant recipients were randomized to a stented or nonstented group. Incidence of UTIs, hematuria, pyuria or asymptomatic bacteriuria and urological complications were compared over a follow-up period of 3 months.

A total of 93 patients were considered for final analysis, 48 in stented and 45 in nonstented group. Both groups were comparable in terms of incidence of UTI (11/48 [22.9%] vs. 7/45 [15.6%] P = 0.4), pyuria (25/48 [52.1%] vs. 21/45 [46.7%] P = 0.6), and ureteric anastomotic leak (0/45 vs. 1/45 [1.1%] P = 0.48). Incidence of hematuria was significantly higher in stented group (46/48 [95.8%] vs. 35/45 [77.8%] P = 0.01].

Stent placement does not increase UTI rates but increases the incidence of hematuria and necessitates a second procedure for stent removal. However, a larger sample size is required to comment on the ureteric complications.