Experimental study of the intraurethral placement of expandable metallic stents

Various types of Gianturco expandable metallic stents were implanted into the urethra of four dogs in order to evaluate the suitable expandability of the stents in urethra and also to determine the effect of the stents on the urethral wall. The stent of 1.5 cm in length and constructed of 0.010 inch round stainless steel wire with twelve zigzag bends showed the suitable expandability on the canine urethra compared to the other stents. The urethra remained patent and the inflammatory changes on the urethral wall were moderately noted. No hematuria or calcifications around the stents were noted in any dogs. The experimental data showed a potential clinical application.