title: Infective complications associated with ureteral stents in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stenting of the ureter is commonly performed during renal transplantation to avoid early complications. However, it predisposes to infections that may pose a significant threat to the graft and patient. Our study sought to investigate the incidence of infections associated with stents in renal transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive renal transplant recipients performed over 1 year with 6 months follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median recipient age was 46 years (range, 19-71 years). Among the study group, 75 patients received an organ from deceased donor and 25 from live donor. In our study, there were 79 patients with a stent (ST) and 18 without a stent (WOST); 3 patients who required nephrectomy were excluded from the study. There were 2 ureteric stenoses that occurred following stent removal: 1 required surgical correction and 1 was treated radiologically. There were no cases of urinary leak. The incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) was significantly greater among ST compared with WOST subjects (71% vs 39%; P = .02). New episodes of UTI following removal of the stent were more common among patients who had experienced infections while having a stent compared with infection-free stented patients (54% vs 30%; P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A ureteric stent may help to reduce early postoperative complications (leak and stricture), but increased the likelihood of UTI. Infection while having a ureteric stent was associated with a high recurrence rate of UTI even after stent removal.
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, UK. drmani_22@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ilham
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chavez
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asderakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult