Indwelling ureteral splints. Retrospective study of applications and results of ureteral stents in Germany.

Indications for ureteral stents are mainly malignant ureteral stenoses and obstructive uropathy in high risk patients. In a retrospective study, the experience with ureteral splints in 48 major German hospitals was analyzed for application, results and complications. 323 splints were used in 302 patients for 275 neoplastic or 48 benign ureteral stenoses. Urinary drainage varied between 16 days and 4 years. In 63 patients drainage for more than 1 year was guaranteed. Complications in 164 patients were in decreasing frequency: hematuria, fever, downward migration, kinking of the splint, upward migration, calcification and septicemia. Ureteral stents have to be limited to those cases in which the benefit overrides possible complications.