title: Placement of ureteral stents in pregnancy using ultrasound guidance.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5083, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fabrizio
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Feld
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bagley
mesh_terms: 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*