title: Metal stents: a new treatment of malignant ureteral obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report our experience with the use of metallic self-expandable and balloon expandable stents for the treatment of malignant ureteral obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 12 consecutive patients with malignant ureteral obstruction, for a total of 14 ureters with stents placed. We placed metallic balloon expandable stents in 6 patients and self-expandable metallic stents in the remaining 6. Mean patient age was 65 years and mean followup was 9 months (range 8 to 16).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the ureters 11 were patent without any additional manipulations during followup of 8 to 16 months. Secondary interventions were needed in 3 cases because of obstructive urothelial hyperplastic reaction, tumor ingrowth and local recurrence of the primary cancer invading the upper end of the stent. Two patients died 2 and 10 months after placement of the stent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both types of metal stents have advantages and disadvantages that must be balanced against each other when choosing the ideal device for the treatment of obstruction. Implantation of a metal self-expanding or balloon expanding stent is safe and effective for the palliative treatment of malignant ureteral obstruction in late stage cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Patras, School of Medicine, Greece.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Barbalias
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siablis
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Liatsikos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karnabatidis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yarmenitis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bouropoulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*