A NEW, LARGE CALIBER, SELF-EXPANDING AND SELF-RETAINING TEMPORARY INTRAPROSTATIC STENT (PROSTACOIL) IN THE TREATMENT OF PROSTATIC OBSTRUCTION

Objective To determine the benefits of a new self-expanding and self-r etaining large calibre temporary intraprostatic coil stent in patients with bladder outflow obstruction due to benign prostatic hypertrophy. Patients and methods Sixty-five patients with bladder outflow obstruc tion have been studied with a followup period of 3-28 months (mean 16) . Results Thirty patients became eligible for surgery and had their st ent removed without difficulty 3-12 months after stent insertion. Only one stent was removed because of urgency and incontinence. Stent repo sitioning was required in five patients and 14 complained of temporary dysuria or perineal pain. Twenty-seven patients continue to pass urin e through their stent without difficulty. Conclusion Because of its la rge diameter and its temporary nature this new stent allows endoscopic examination of the bladder and has few side effects. This stent shoul d be considered as an alternative to a urethral catheter or other temp orary stents in patients who are unfit for surgery.