Migration of Intraureteral Stents Compared to Conventional Double-J Stents.

The ureteral stent is one of the most extensively used tools in the field of urology. They are used for aiding post-operative healing of the ureter, visualizing the ureteral during procedures, and alleviating ureteral obstruction (eg. nephrolithiasis). Double-J stents, which are secured by loops in both the renal pelvis and the bladder, have become most urologists' go-to choice for ureteral stents since they were introduced in the 1970s. Unfortunately, it has been shown that 80-90% of patients with ureteral stents have urinary complaints following stent placement.

Interestingly, a recent study suggested utility of intraureteral stents. These stents have one loop in the renal pelvis while their distal end is positioned proximal to the ureteral orifice. The above-mentioned study showed that patients with intraureteral stents had less discomfort as opposed to the those that had double-J stents.

Due to the immense number of patients that require ureteral stent placement, this improvement in comfort is very promising for the urological field. However, no one has studied if stents placed intraureterally migrate from the time they are placed to the time they are removed. If stents migrate proximally toward the renal pelvis, it is possible that retrieval could be more difficult, and the ureteral patency established by the stent could be compromised.

The objective of this study is to determine if intraureterally placed stents migrate as compared to ureteral stents placed via the conventional method.

This study will be a prospective, randomized controlled, single-blinded trial. The subjects will include up to 140 patients (about 70 subjects per group) from ages 1-100 years old that are to undergo stent placement for nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, and urological cancer.