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Ureteral Stents: Materials
1278
RENAL CALCULI
and associates in the United Kingdom, and Dretler in the United States 1 have had the largest experience with such treatment. The over-all success rate with lasertripsy in these hands is approximately 85 per cent. In the selected individual, particularly with lower ureteral stones with mean diameters of greater than 10 mm., lasertripsy may be the only alternative to open ureterolithotomy. Even more intriguing is the concept that lasertripsy can be done without endoscopy at all. The fiber is passed through a ureteral catheter and the sound generated during lasertripsy is monitored with a microphone. Such maneuvers may soon cause us to reconsider the current watch and wait policy for the treatment of small ureteral stones. Mani Menon, M.D. 1. Dretler, S. P.: Laser photofragmentation of ureter al calculi: analysis of 75 cases. J Endourol., 1: 9, 1987. Ureteral Stents: Materials
H. K. MARDIS AND R. M. KROEGER, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska Urol. Clin. N. Amer., 15: 471-479, 1988 Comparative testing of several commercial stents revealed wide variations in the physicochemical properties. The basic understanding of the behavior and vulnerabilities of biomaterials within the urinary system will facilitate development of new endourological devices.
Ureteral Stents: Indications, Variation and Complications
B.
SALTZMAN, Department of Urology, Mount Sinai Medical School and Stone Facility, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York
Urol. Clin. N. Amer., 15: 481-491, 1988
Editorial Comment: These 2 articles review the wide array of ureteral stents available to the urologist. As one may expect, there is no ideal stent. Silicone stents are nonirritating and resistant to incrustation. They can be used long-term but are rigid and may be difficult to bypass ureteral obstruction. Polyethylene stents are brittle and break if they are left in for long periods. Therefore, they are not used commonly at this time. However, they do provide the greatest urinary flow. Polyurethane stents are stiffer than silicone stents, have thinner walls and allow larger flow. C-Flex* stents are softer than polyurethane and have a memory inferior to polyurethane but superior to silicone. Urosoftt stents are softer and offer greatest patient comfort. However, they expand in urine and cannot be left indwelling greater than 8 weeks. Mani Menon, M.D.
* Van-Tee.
t Cook Urological, Spencer, Indiana.
RENAL CALCULI
and associates in the United Kingdom, and Dretler in the United States 1 have had the largest experience with such treatment. The over-all success rate with lasertripsy in these hands is approximately 85 per cent. In the selected individual, particularly with lower ureteral stones with mean diameters of greater than 10 mm., lasertripsy may be the only alternative to open ureterolithotomy. Even more intriguing is the concept that lasertripsy can be done without endoscopy at all. The fiber is passed through a ureteral catheter and the sound generated during lasertripsy is monitored with a microphone. Such maneuvers may soon cause us to reconsider the current watch and wait policy for the treatment of small ureteral stones. Mani Menon, M.D. 1. Dretler, S. P.: Laser photofragmentation of ureter al calculi: analysis of 75 cases. J Endourol., 1: 9, 1987. Ureteral Stents: Materials
H. K. MARDIS AND R. M. KROEGER, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska Urol. Clin. N. Amer., 15: 471-479, 1988 Comparative testing of several commercial stents revealed wide variations in the physicochemical properties. The basic understanding of the behavior and vulnerabilities of biomaterials within the urinary system will facilitate development of new endourological devices.
Ureteral Stents: Indications, Variation and Complications
B.
SALTZMAN, Department of Urology, Mount Sinai Medical School and Stone Facility, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York
Urol. Clin. N. Amer., 15: 481-491, 1988
Editorial Comment: These 2 articles review the wide array of ureteral stents available to the urologist. As one may expect, there is no ideal stent. Silicone stents are nonirritating and resistant to incrustation. They can be used long-term but are rigid and may be difficult to bypass ureteral obstruction. Polyethylene stents are brittle and break if they are left in for long periods. Therefore, they are not used commonly at this time. However, they do provide the greatest urinary flow. Polyurethane stents are stiffer than silicone stents, have thinner walls and allow larger flow. C-Flex* stents are softer than polyurethane and have a memory inferior to polyurethane but superior to silicone. Urosoftt stents are softer and offer greatest patient comfort. However, they expand in urine and cannot be left indwelling greater than 8 weeks. Mani Menon, M.D.
* Van-Tee.
t Cook Urological, Spencer, Indiana.