Stenturia: An unusual manifestation of spontaneous ureteral stent fragmentation

Two patients presented with passage of worm-like stent fragments in the uri ne. The first had undergone attempted percutaneous removal of left renal ca lculus and ureteral stenting 4 months prior to presentation, The second had left-sided stent placement for obstructive anuria on account of bilateral renal calculi 3 months earlier. The stents had fragmented into multiple pie ces over a mean indwelling time of only 3.5 months. Apart from calculus dis ease, both patients had documented urinary tract infection, Stent fragmenta tion is a relatively rare (0.3%) but major complication. However, spontaneo us excretion of these fragments has not been hitherto reported. These cases of rapid stent disintegration highlight the need for closer monitoring of the in dwelling stents, especially in patients with calculus disease and as sociated persistent infection. In such patients the stent should probably b e changed within 3 months.