Stenting in Cases of Ureteral Orifice Damage during Laser Enucleation of the Prostate for BPH: Is it Worth It?
INTRODUCTION
In several patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the ureteral orifices may be in close proximity to the enlarged prostate due to considerable intravesical prostatic protrusion. In such cases, ureteral orifices are at risk of damage as they become involved in the surgery. We aimed to answer the question whether upper urinary tract stenting is necessary when ureteral orifices get damaged during thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP).
METHODS
Our retrospective study included 340 patients aged 67.2 (54-89) years with infravesical obstruction (IPSS>20, Qmax
RESULTS
Three patients with damaged ureteral orifices underwent intraoperative upper urinary tract stenting. During follow-up, no patients with a stent developed pelvicalyceal system dilatation or showed any signs of urine flow inhibition. The stents were removed two weeks after surgery. Ultrasonography showed no dilatation during further follow-up. In 4 cases, a decision was made to forgo stenting. Two patients had no signs of pelvicalyceal system dilatation within one month of follow-up. Two other patients without stents developed pelvicalyceal system dilatation (renal pelvis up to 1.5 cm; renal calyx up to 0.5 cm) with no clinical manifestation. Fourteen days following surgery, dilatation persisted in one patient. One month following surgery, no patients showed pelvicalyceal system dilatation. Six months after surgery, we observed a statistically significant improvement in IPSS, QoL, Qmax and post-void residual volume in all the patients (p
CONCLUSION
Our experience shows that stenting in cases of ureteral orifice damage during ThuFLEP is not necessary. Associated asymptomatic pelvicalyceal system dilatation can not be considered an indication for stenting. However, it still requires thorough ultrasound monitoring.
Funding: None