Randomised control trial to compare pain during DoubleJ stent removal using Flexible cystoscope and Semirigid Ureteroscope

Ureteral stent mostly Double J stent (DJ stent) which are placed for various indications like  ureterescopic stone removal, PCNL, pyeloplasty, ESWL are an integral part of urological practice. The stents are usually removed after 2 to 6 weeks after the initial therapeutic procedure. Rigid cystoscope which were used for stent removal   is associated with discomfort and pain, especially in male patients because of longer urethra.Some studies had compared flexible and rigid cystoscopy in terms of patient discomfort and pain but for cystoscopy only without any adjuvant procedure.Flexible cystoscopy(FC) is associated with high initial and mantanence costs  and in a developing nation like ours cost implication are important. Soylemez et al used semirigid ureteroscope(SRU) for cystoscopy and stent removal in both male and female patients and found it comparable to flexible cystoscope with lower cost.

Till now no study has compared these different techniques for stent retrieval in male patients and no consensus is there regarding the best technique, so we designed this study as a RCT for comparing flexible cystoscope and semierigid ureteroscope for stent removal in our patients.