[Tolerance and effectiveness of Memokath® 051 ureteral stents : a prospective 3 year follow-up study]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and tolerance of the metallic stent Memokath® 051 in the management of patients with chronic ureteral stricture treated by JJ stenting.

Patients and methods: A prospective observational study included 16 patients with chronic ureteral stricture managed with JJ stents. They were all treated with Memokath® 051 metallic stents. The primary endpoint was the medium durability of the stent. Adverse events and complications were prospectively collected. The evolution of the irritative urinary symptoms and lumbar pain after stent insertion were also assessed.

Results: Sixteen patients (mean age: 62, standard deviation: 11,4) had a total of 20 stents inserted. It was technically impossible to insert the stent in two patients and one stent was removed one day after insertion. The medium durability of the stents was 13 months (standard deviation: 10,9). Eight stents (40%) were still functioning at the end of the study. Complications were: six migrations (30%) and four obstructions (20%) of the stents. Thirteen of the 14 patients with a Memokath® stent experienced significant improvement of their JJ stent-related symptoms.

Conclusion: The Memokath® 051 stent was an interesting alternative to JJ stents in the management of chronic ureteral strictures. Their tolerance was good and complications were easily managed without threatening the urologic prognosis of the patients. Larger studies are required to identify the risk factors of complications and the best indications for stent insertion.