Effect of stent duration on ureteral healing following endoureterotomy in an animal model.
Ureteral strictures were created in 18 minipigs. Six weeks after stricture inducement, endourologic incision with a balloon cutting device was performed and a 7 F internal polyurethane stent was placed. After this step, 14 pigs remained in the study and were randomized into three different groups depending upon the time when the stent was removed: 1, 3 or 6 weeks. Twelve weeks after stricture incision, the pigs were killed, the status of the incised ureteral segment was evaluated histologically, and a healing score was determined. There were no statistically significant overall differences among the mean values of the overall healing score throughout the three different groups. However, when the one-week and the six-week groups (p < .05) were compared with respect to strictures requiring more than one incision due to stricture length greater than 2 centimeters, a more favorable outcome occurred in the 1 week group. Based on these findings it may be reasonable to remove ureteral stents as early as 1 week after endoureterotomy and endopyelotomy.
Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
K
K
Kerbl
P S
PS
Chandhoke
R S
RS
Figenshau
A M
AM
Stone
R V
RV
Clayman
D000818:Animals; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013997:Time Factors; D014513:Ureter / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*