title: Minimally invasive ureteral stent retrieval.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed a minimally invasive (noncystoscopic) method for retrieving ureteral stents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 consecutive patients underwent placement of a ureteral stent with a stainless steel bead attached to its distal end. The stent was later removed by a urethral catheter with a rare earth magnet attached to its proximal end.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 29 of the 30 patients the stent with the attached bead was removed without difficulty or patient discomfort. The single failure occurred in a patient with a large median prostate lobe.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive, nonendoscopic ureteral stent retrieval was achieved in 97% of patients. The attractive force of the magnet for the bead was sufficient to attract and extract the stent. No adverse effects of the procedure or the stainless steel bead were noted. This magnet retrieval system is a feasible, simpler and less invasive alternative to cystoscopic retrieval of ureteral stents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Ian T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: McDougall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003558:Cystoscopy; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015607:Stents; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014567:Urography
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel