SPIRAL-REINFORCED URETERAL STENT - AN ALTERNATIVE FOR INTERNAL URINARY-DIVERSION

Internal urinary diversion of chronic ureteral obstruction is not suff icient in as many as 60% of patients because of tumor compression, cat heter kinking, or a small stent lumen. To prevent such problems, we de veloped a new ureteral stent that is stable in form in spite of a larg e lumen. This catheter is a thin polyurethane tube supported by a buil t-in metal spiral wire. We have attempted to use this stent in 16 case s of chronic ureteral obstruction. Stent placement was successful in 1 4. Other than urinary tract infection in two patients, bladder urgency in one, and stent dislocation in another, there were no complications . Hydronephrosis disappeared soon after stent application in 12 of the 14 patients, and in the remaining two, hydronephrosis was decreased b ut not totally eliminated. Catheters were left in place for an average of 6.5 weeks (range 2.5-8.5 weeks). A change of catheter because of b lockage was necessary in only one patient. This spiral-reinforced sten t enables better internal urinary drainage, especially in cases of mal ignant ureteral obstruction.