BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF VARIOUS INDWELLING DOUBLE-J STENTS

The biocompatibility of 8 double-J stent brands was evaluated both in vivo, by scanning electron microscopy and histological analysis of pig ureters intubated for 6 weeks, and in vitro, by cell culture methods. In vivo findings showed that superficial epithelial destruction was m ilder in the ureters intubated with hydrogel-coated stents than in tho se intubated with other stents. Inflammatory reactive changes were mil der in the ureters intubated with silicone stents than in those intuba ted with other stents, while encrustation was more severe on silicone and Grey(TM) stents than the others. In vitro, the 3 stent brands made of ''modified polyurethane'' were found to be cytotoxic while the oth ers were not. Overall, silicone and hydrogel-coated stents seemed to b e more biocompatible than the others, and hydrogel-coated stents to be more suitable than silicone stents for long-term ureteral stenting, b eing less prone to encrustation. Although they are of an experimental nature, these findings may be of relevance to clinical practice.