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The use of 2 ipsilateral ureteral stents for relief of ureteral obstruction from extrinsic compression
1Division of Urologic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA.
Purpose:
We present our early experience with the novel approach of placing 2 parallel stents simultaneously in extrinsically obstructed ureters in which single stents had failed. The increased stiffness of 2 stents reduces kinking and luminal compression, and the potential space between the stents likely preserves flow around as well as through them.
Materials And Methods:
Four patients recently presented with ureteral obstruction secondary to nonurinary tract malignancies. Previous stenting with a single 6F Double-J* stent had failed in all cases. Three patients experienced flank pain and 1 had persistent azotemia within 3 days of initial stent placement. All patients had significant residual sonographic hydronephrosis despite good stent position. In all cases cystoscopy/stent exchange was performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. Parallel 4.7F Double-J stents were placed simultaneously over 2, 0.035 hydrophilic coated glide wires under fluoroscopic guidance after removal of the malfunctioning 6F stent.
Results:
Stent placement was uneventful in all 4 patients with prompt drainage of contrast material seen after parallel ipsilateral stent placement. Patients tolerated the double 4.7F parallel stents with no discernible difference in irritative symptoms compared to single 6F stents. Flank pain and azotemia resolved in 3 patients, and hydronephrosis improved in all 4 after placement of parallel Double-J stents. All patients remain alive with a mean followup of 5.8 months (range 4 to 8). Except for 1 patient who later underwent ureterolysis, each has subsequently had the stent changed every 3 months. No patient has required proximal urinary diversion (that is percutaneous nephrostomy tube).
Conclusions:
Placement of 2 ipsilateral parallel ureteral stents simultaneously is an easy technique. It may obviate percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement in patients in whom drainage with a single stent failed, especially in cases of extrinsic ureteral compression.