Long-term result of Memokath urethral sphincter stent in spinal cord injury patients.
BACKGROUND
Memokath urethral sphincter stents are used to facilitate bladder emptying in patients with spinal cord injury, but long term follow-up has not been reported.


METHODS
Case series of ten men with spinal cord injury who underwent insertion of Memokath stents and were followed for up to nine years.


RESULTS
Within four years, the stent had to be removed in nine out of ten patients because of: extensive mucosal proliferation causing obstruction to the lumen of the stent; stone around the proximal end of the stent, incomplete bladder emptying, and recurrent urinary infections; migration of the stent into the bladder related to digital evacuation of bowels; large residual urine; concretions within the stent causing obstruction to flow of urine, and partial blockage of the stent causing frequent episodes of autonomic dysreflexia. In one patient the stent continued to function satisfactorily after nine years.


CONCLUSIONS
The Memokath stent has a role as a temporary measure for treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in selected SCI patients who do not get recurrent urinary infection and do not require manual evacuation of bowels.
Vaidyanathan
Subramanian
S
Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, District General Hospital, Southport PR8 6PN, United Kingdom. vaidyanathansiu@hotmail.com
Soni
Bakul M
BM
Oo
Tun
T
Sett
Pradipkumar
P
Hughes
Peter L
PL
Singh
Gurpreet
G
D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000150:complications*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014521:Urethra; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*