Timing of Ureteral Stent Removal After Ureteroscopy on Stent-Related Symptoms: A Validated Questionnaire Comparison of 3 and 7 Days Stent Duration.

Objectives: To determine whether urinary symptoms are significantly improved with a shorter duration of stent placement without an increase in complications. Methods: A total of 100 patients were prospectively randomized to two groups, either a 3-day ( n  = 59, Group 1) or 7-day ( n  = 41, Group 2) stent placement group depending on date of operation. Patients submitted Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaires both while stents were in situ and 2 to 3 days after removal. Results: Group 2 reported greater urinary symptoms ( p  < 0.001) and pain ( p  < 0.001) with stents in situ compared with Group 1. Urinary symptoms ( p  < 0.001), pain ( p  = 0.003), and general health ( p  = 0.02) were more severe in Group 2 after stent removal as well. The analysis also revealed that urinary symptoms, pain, and general health improved after stent removal compared with stent in situ ( p  < 0.001). There were no significant differences in work-related functioning between two groups. There was one complication in Group 1 requiring bilateral stent replacement. There were no significant differences in emergency department visits, unplanned clinic visits, or hospitalizations between Groups 1 and 2. Conclusions: Patients with stent removal at 3-day group had better reported urinary, pain, and general health score compared with 7-day group. Patients after stent removal had improved urinary symptoms, pain symptom, and general health compared with ureteral stent in situ . There was no statistically significant difference in complications between the groups.