PERCUTANEOUS FLUOROSCOPICALLY GUIDED REMOVAL OF DYSFUNCTIONING URETERAL STENTS

PURPOSE: To present the authors' experience with fluoroscopically guid ed percutaneous removal of dysfunctioning ureteral stents and to discu ss the technique and instrumentation used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 6 years, stent or stent fragment extraction procedures were performed in 20 patients. Indications included stent misplacement or migration, stent fracture, difficult retrograde exchange, stent occlusion, and r emoval prior to percutaneous ureteroscopy. Twelve extractions were per formed as two-stage procedures and eight as one-stage procedures. A ri gid forceps passed through a 12-F sheath was the preferred instrument for extraction. Other instruments used successfully included snares an d flexible forceps.