Short-time ureteral catheterization after operative ureteroscopic lithotripsy: An alternative to stent versus no stent evaluated in a retrospective study.

Objectives: Stent-less procedure following ureterolithotripsy needs a definition for patient selection and procedure criteria. To mediate stenting versus no stenting, a retrospective study was performed to evaluate the insertion of an ureteral open-tip catheter for 24 hours. Material and method: From 2002 to 2006 255 ureterolithotripsy were performed (176 male - 79 female, mean age 51.5 y.o.). Stone was in the upper ureter in 101 cases, in the mid in 89 and the lower in 65. Patients were retrospectively separated into 3 groups: in Group A a stent was placed because of complicated lithotripsy and left for 15 days. In Group B an open-tip catheter was placed for 24 hours. In Group C no catheter was left. All patients were evaluated for symptoms as need of antalgic substancies. Results: In Group A 134 patients were stented. The mean stone dimensions were 8.7mm. Flank pain was reported in 52 patients (38%) on post-op 15 days, 77 patients (57.4%) referred lower urinary tract symptoms, 2 patients reported hematuria. In Group B 105 patients (41.1%) were stented with open-tip catheter. The mean stone dimension was 6.3 mm. Pain was referred in 43 patient (40.9%) after the catheter removal. In 12 cases (11.4%) hospital readmission was necessary due to pain. Group C was represented by 16 patients (6.27%). Mean stone dimension was 6mm. No postoperative pain was reported. A statistical difference (p <0.005) is significative comparing the operative time for the stent vs open-tip group. Conclusions: No rules establish if it is correct to stent or to avoid this procedure, so trying to resolve the dilemma by inserting an open tip catheter for 24 hours seems a good response. The operating time is reduced for no stenting or positioning catheter vs stenting. To reduce immediate post-ureteroscopy complication placing an open-tip catheter for 24 hours seems to be a simple and cheap procedure.