Stents and stenting

Abstract

Stents are typically placed to prevent or relieve ureteral obstruction caused by intrinsic or extrinsic etiologies. Stent design and biomaterials have improved in recent years from the first described double-J stent in 1978. The indications for placement of a ureteral stent include obstructing ureteral calculi, ureteral strictures, congenital anomalies such as ureteropelvic junction obstruction, retroperitoneal tumor or fibrosis, trauma and iatrogenic injury, and postoperative drainage. Although stents have several advantages, they are not without potential associated complications. Recent advances in design and materials have been developed to produce an ideal urinary stent with minimal complications. The ureteral stent is a mainstay in the urologist's armamentarium, and understanding the properties, indications, and complications is very pertinent to providing optimal patient care. This chapter will address these issues along with recent advances for ureteral stents. © 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited.