title: Percutaneous antegrade ureteric stent removal using a rigid alligator forceps.
abstract: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous antegrade ureteric stent removal using a rigid alligator forceps. Twenty patients were included in our study. Indications for ureteric stent insertion included stone disease (n = 7), malignancy (n = 8) and transplant anastomotic strictures (n = 5). Stent retrieval was carried out for proximal stent placement/migration in seven patients and encrustation in the remaining 13. Twenty-two stents were successfully retrieved in 20 patients. There was one technical failure (5%). There were no major complications. We had four minor complications, which included nephrostomy site pain (n = 2), periprocedural sepsis (n = 1) and a small urinoma (n = 1). All patients settled with conservative management. Percutaneous radiologically guided antegrade ureteric stent removal with an alligator forceps is safe and effective, particularly when initial surgical removal has failed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. givenmark@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Given
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Geoghegan
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020878:Device Removal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014513:Ureter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*