Is Routine Placement of Ureteral Stents Necessary after Ureteroscopy for Lower Ureteral Stones?

Kim, Ki Ho; Lee, Kyung Seop; Seo, Young Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate whether postoperative ureteral stenting is necessary after ureteroscopic removal of lower ureteral stones.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 97 patients with distal ureteral calculi, amenable to ureteroscopic treatment, were retrospectively divided into the stented (55, group 1) and nonstented (42, group 2) groups, and analyzed. The ureteroscopic stone removal was performed using a semirigid ureteroscope (7.5Fr). The symptoms were recorded on the 7th postoperative day. The operative time, stone size, success rate and postoperative symptoms were analyzed in each group.
RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences in the 2 groups regarding the stone size, success rate and operative time. Patients with stents had more statistically significant suprapubic discomfort (p=0.001), bladder irritative symptoms (p=0.019) and overall pain (p<0.05) than the nonstented group.
CONCLUSIONS
Ureteral stents increase the incidence of pain and bladder irritative symptoms. Therefore, it is our belief that routine stenting after ureteroscopic stone removal is not required, as long as the procedure is uncomplicated.