title: Effects of proximal and distal ends of double-J ureteral stent position on postprocedural symptoms and quality of life: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of the position of the proximal and distal ends of Double-J ureteral stents on postprocedural flank pain, lower urinary-tract symptoms, and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 120 patients who required unilateral Double-J ureteral stents for various indications. They were randomized into two equal groups. Group 1 had longer stents, with the proximal end in the upper calix and the distal end crossing the midline of the bladder. Group 2 had proper stent length with the proximal end in the pelvis and the lower end just beyond the vesicoureteral junction. Patients answered a questionnaire regarding flank pain, dysuria, and urgency as well as quality of life after 1 week of stenting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients (67%) of group 1 and 43 (72%) of group 2 had mild flank pain, especially during urination. There was no significant difference in the degree of flank pain in the two groups. Moderate to severe dysuria was reported by 53 patients (88%) in group 1 and 11 patients (18%) in group 2 (P < 0.001). Moderate to severe urgency was reported by 48 patients (80%) in group 1 and in 14 (23%) in group 2 (P < 0.001). A worse quality of life was reported by patients in group 1, among whom moderate to severe bother was noted by 51 (85%) compared with group 2, in which moderate to severe bother was reported by only 13 patients (22%) (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ureteral stents are associated with flank pain and lower urinary-tract symptoms. The flank pain was not affected by the length of stent. Urgency and dysuria as well as a worse quality of life were significantly more common in the patients who had longer stents.
authors: Urology Unit, Adan Hospital, Kuwait., Department of Surgery, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
authors: Ahmed M
authors: AM
authors: Al-Kandari
authors: Tariq F
authors: TF
authors: Al-Shaiji
authors: Hani
authors: H
authors: Shaaban
authors: Hamdy M
authors: HM
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Yehya H
authors: YH
authors: Elshebiny
authors: Ahmed A
authors: AA
authors: Shokeir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*