Muhammad Rafiqzaki, Ahmad Salman, Atif Hanif Chaudhary, Khumair, Asif Mehfoozur Rehman.
Is DJ stenting still needed after uncomplicated ureteroscopic lithotripsy? a randomized controlled trial.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;5(1):121-4.

The objective of the study was to assess the need for ureteral stent after uncomplicated ureteroscopy for ureteric stones using intracorporeal lithotripsy. A total of 204 patients underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy for ureteric stones at the department of urology Sharif Medical city hospital(SMCH), Sharif medical and Dental college, Lahore between March 2008 and March 2010. After stone fragmentation, 199 patients were enrolled in our study and they were randomly divided into two groups: the first group (stented, 99 patients) had ureteric stents inserted postoperatively, while the second group (nonstented, 99 patients) had no stenting. The stent was removed at two weeks interval. Patients in each group were assessed for success, operative time, postoperative pain, irritative voiding symptoms, hematuria, and stricture formation. The two groups were comparable with respect to patient age, gender and mean stone size. Mean operative time in the stented group was 42 minutes (range 15-60), compared to 37 minutes (range 20-45) in the nonstented group. Irritative voiding symptoms were seen in 30.31% of the stented group, compared to 28.29% in the nonstented group. 29 patients (29.2%) in the stented group patients and 11 patients (11.1%) in the nonstented group required two or more oral analgesic tablets a day in the immediate postoperative period. Re-admission to the hospital for pain control was necessary in one patient in the nonstented group. 10 patients (10.11%) and 8 patients (8.08%) developed hamaturia in the stented and the nonstented groups respectively. The stone-free rate and stricture formation showed no difference between the two groups. Ureteral stent is not necessary after uncomplicated ureteroscopy for ureteric stone management using intracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The ureteral stent placement has no extra advantage while it is bothersome to patient in term of cost and later on in its retrieval.

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