Office-based ureteral stent placement and stent exchange using mild sedation, local anesthesia, and no fluoroscopic guidance: safety, efficacy, and feasibility

Abstract

Ureteric stent exchange and stent placement are traditionally performed under general anesthesia with fluoroscopic guidance. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent ureteric stent exchange or stent placement in an office setting from April 2020 to May 2023. Stent placements were attempted in patients with a success rate of 80% and stent exchanges were also performed with a success rate of 94.7%. This technique not only yielded comparable success rates to OR procedures under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance, but also utilized fewer resources, offered increased convenience for urologists, and reduced both time and cost for patients.

Keywords: Feasibility studies, stents, treatment outcome, ureter, ureteral obstruction, ureteroscope