The role of stenting in relieving loin pain following ureteroscopic stone therapy for persisting renal colic with hydronephrosis

Objective To prospectively define the role of the double J-stent placement following ureteroscopic stone therapy in providing a pain-free postoperative period for patients with persisting loin pain and documented hydronphrosis. Material and methods The study cohort consisted of 27 patients (mean age: 38.59 years; range: 22–60 years) who had undergone ureteroscopic intervention due to ureteral stone. All of the patients reported loin pain which did not respond to medical therapy associated with various degrees of hydronephrosis documented by ultrasound and/or an excretory urogram. The patients were randomized to either a stented (18 patients) or stentless (nine patients) group following semirigid ureteroscopy (7.5/12 Fr) for the treatment of ureteral calculi (pneumatic lithotripsy). The mean diameter of the stones was 7.7 mm (range: 3–13 mm). Intra-operative balloon ureter orifice dilatation was routinely performed. All patients were evaluated between 0 and 6 days postoperative for loin pain and lower urinary tract symptoms. Results Nine patients had loin pain in the first few days following the operation and were in need of intramuscular and/or intravenous analgesics. Of these, four were stented patients (4/18; 22.2%) and five were stentless patients (5/9; 55.5%). Lower urinary tract symptoms were not clinically significant and did not affect the quality of life in terms of loin pain, with the exception of one patient in whom the stent had dropped into the bladder. Conclusion We believe that stenting in patients with documented hydronephrosis manifesting in persisting renal colic is recommended. As ureteroscopic therapy may aggregate the edema of ureter mucosa, double J-stent placement may play an important role in offering patients a postoperative period free of loin discomfort. However, further prospective trials should be designed to evaluate the criteria for stentless ureterorenoscopy.