Radiological retrograde ureteric stent exchange in women: a single-centre review

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of modified wire loop technique for retrograde stent exchange.

Materials and methods: All patients were from the KK Women and Children's Hospital where there is no on-site urology service. Patients were identified retrospectively from the institutional radiological information system (RIS) database. In total, 270 stents were removed and 238 replaced for 79 patients between January 2012 to December 2016. Success rates for stent removal and exchange as well as skin dose and fluoroscopy time were assessed.

Results: Stent exchange was successful in 234/238 (98%) of cases. Failure was due to loss of access (one case), inability to snare stent due to distorted anatomy (two cases), and extensive encrustation of stent (one case). In 252/270 (93%) cases, stent was removed using modified snare while in 18 (7%) cases, other snare devices were used. Average fluoroscopy time per stent for stent exchange was 573 seconds and average skin dose was 12,494 DAP/mGy•cm².

Conclusion: Fluoroscopy-guided retrograde ureteric stent exchange using the modified snare loop technique is effective, quick, and can be performed easily with equipment used in daily intervention practice. It may also be coupled with ureteroplasty, which may help the patient achieve eventual stent-free status.