European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATION OF URINARY SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH URETERAL STENTS

K.M.V.K Kothwela, Anurudda Udaya Bandara Pethiyagoda* and Kalyani Pethiyagoda

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Ureteral stents are associated with a variety of symptoms of which urinary symptoms constitute a major part. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, associated inconvenience, frequency of various urinary symptoms in relation to ureteral stenting and assess the probable impact of pain related to stents to the QoL of patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 96 adult patients consecutively participated and they were asked to complete the USSQ questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered information on early (2 weeks after insertion) and late (before stent removal) complications of stent insertion. The questionnaire responses were analyzed using cross tabulations and descriptive statistics. Results: A high proportion (> 60%) of patients with stents reported frequency, urgency, dysuria and hematuria, which interfered with daily activities as they were associated with the flank and supra pubic pain. The differences between the prevalence of several urinary symptoms associated with stents and their improvement from the early stage to the late stage marked significant (p <0.05). Stents had a variable degree of impact on all general health domains. Discussion: The results of our study indicated that storage LUTS, loin pain in the side of the stent while passing urine and supra pubic discomfort were predominant domains affected by stents. The results confirmed the assumption that urinary symptoms had an impact on social life and that pain added to limitations in physical activities. We propose that indwelling ureteral stents are related with a wide scope of urinary tract symptoms and pain largely influencing the general health of patients.

Keywords: Ureteral Stents, Stent Symptoms, Stent Related Pain, Quality of Life.