EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL DJS AND LOOP TAIL STENT ON LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Effects of the Conventional DJ Stent and the loop-tail stent on Lower Urinary tract Symptoms.

METHODOLOGY: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Urology Department, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, from October 2024 to April 2025. Patients were divided into two equal groups into two groups through randomization software. In group A patients; conventional DJ stent was inserted after completion of URS. In group B patients; LT stent was inserted after completion of URS. All patients were followed for 4 weeks after the primary procedure and USSQ score was determined in-terms of urinary and pain symptoms only.

RESULTS: The average age of participants in Group LT was 38.35 ± 10.1 years, whereas Group DJ had a slightly younger average age of 36.43 ± 10.8 years (p-value 0.26). There was no incidence of self-migration and stent encrustation. Additionally, when examining the urinary symptom score (USS), Group LT had a mean score of 1.37 ± 1.45, while Group DJ had a higher mean score of 3.43 ± 2.69 (p-value <0.0001).

CONCLUSION: The loop tail (LT) stent is significantly associated with fewer complications, such as urinary and pain symptoms, in comparison to the DJ stent after ureterorenoscopy (URS).