title: The use of a memokath prostatic stent for obstructive voiding symptoms after brachytherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brachytherapy may be complicated by serious obstructive voiding symptoms (OVS). Only conservative treatment options are available in the first 6 months after brachytherapy. We evaluated safety, efficacy and patient tolerance of the Memokath prostatic stent (MPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A MPS was placed in 10 patients with OVS after brachytherapy. Evaluation included uroflowmetry, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), prostate volume and urethrocystoscopy before and 3 months after placement of the stent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the IPSS and uroflowmetry results significantly improved after stent insertion. The mean IPSS decreased from 29/5 to 11/1 and the mean Qmax from the uroflowmetry improved from 4.7 to 11.2 ml/s. The 5 patients who were catheter dependent voided spontaneously with a mean Qmax of 15 ml/s. Two stents migrated towards the bladder, and those patients needed a second stent which was placed without complications. Removal of the stent was easy to perform. Adverse effects were minor with perineal pain and irritative voiding symptoms occurring in 5 patients mainly in the first weeks after insertion. This did not negatively influence quality of life and all patients were more satisfied with the stent than without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MPS provides a safe, effective, and completely reversible treatment for patients with OVS after brachytherapy and was well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P E F
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stijns
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Scheepens
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J A
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Moorselaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hendrikx
keywords: Brachytherapy; Obstructive voiding symptoms; Prostate; Prostatic outflow obstruction; Quality of life; Stent; Urinary retention