Ureteral stent failure in pediatric patients under 10 years: occurrence and risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the occurrence of ureteral stent failure in pediatric patients aged <10 years and to determine risk factors for failure.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 100 patients who underwent ureteral stent insertion between January 2006 and December 2013. All patients were aged <10 years and were followed up until ureteral stent removal. Information regarding patient demographics, reason for stent insertion, duration of stent maintenance, stent diameter and length, and postoperative results was collected. Risk factors for stent failure were analyzed.


RESULTS
Ureteral stenting was performed in 114 ureter units. The median age at stenting was 34.1 months (interquartile range [IQR], 8.1-71.2 months), and the median duration of stent maintenance was 35.0 days (IQR, 21.0-44.3 days). A 3-Fr stent was used in 39.5% of patients. Stent failure was observed in 11 ureter units (9.6%) at a median of 11.5 days (IQR, 7.8-24.5 days) after insertion, and the stent was subsequently removed. Use of a 3-Fr ureteral stent was the only risk factor for the development of stent failure; the failure rate was 20.0% with this stent diameter.


CONCLUSIONS
Ureteral stenting was a useful procedure with a high success rate, even in patients aged <10 years. A 3-Fr ureteral stent was the only risk factor for stent failure; its substantial failure rate should be considered when deciding whether to insert a stent. Also, short-term re-evaluation after ureteral stent insertion is mandatory, especially with 3-Fr ureteral stents.
Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yong Seung
YS
Lee
Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Young Jae
YJ
Im
Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sang Woon
SW
Kim
Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hee Seo
HS
Son
Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Neddy Lee
NL
Lim
Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: swhan@yuhs.ac.
Sang Won
SW
Han
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*