Placement of ureteral stents in pregnancy using ultrasound guidance.
Urolithiasis is one of the most common causes of pain in pregnancy. Renal calculi can create a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge; left untreated, they can adversely affect maternal and fetal outcome. Although most cases of obstructive uropathy can be managed conservatively, some require relief of obstruction, usually by placement of a ureteral stent. We describe the use of ultrasound to identify an obstructed collecting system and provide guidance for placement of a double-pigtail ureteral stent in two pregnant patients. The technique used to manipulate the guide wire and stent into the renal pelvis under real-time ultrasound monitoring is discussed.
Fabrizio
M D
MD
Department of Urology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5083, USA.
Gray
D S
DS
Feld
R I
RI
Bagley
D H
DH
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D007682:Kidney Pelvis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*