PD50-11 THE PATIENT VOICE: EXPERIENCES WITH URETERAL STENT REMOVAL – A URINARY STONE DISEASE RESEARCH NETWORK (USDRN) STUDY

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 May 2022PD50-11 THE PATIENT VOICE: EXPERIENCES WITH URETERAL STENT REMOVAL – A URINARY STONE DISEASE RESEARCH NETWORK (USDRN) STUDY Carrie Dombeck, Charles Scales, Kevin McKenna, Teresa Swezey, Jodi Antonelli, Alana Desai, Jonathan Harper, Michele Curatolo, Naim Maalouf, Peter Reese, Rebecca McCune, Hussein Al-Khalidi, Ziya Kirkali, and Amy Corneli Carrie DombeckCarrie Dombeck More articles by this author , Charles ScalesCharles Scales More articles by this author , Kevin McKennaKevin McKenna More articles by this author , Teresa SwezeyTeresa Swezey More articles by this author , Jodi AntonelliJodi Antonelli More articles by this author , Alana DesaiAlana Desai More articles by this author , Jonathan HarperJonathan Harper More articles by this author , Michele CuratoloMichele Curatolo More articles by this author , Naim MaaloufNaim Maalouf More articles by this author , Peter ReesePeter Reese More articles by this author , Rebecca McCuneRebecca McCune More articles by this author , Hussein Al-KhalidiHussein Al-Khalidi More articles by this author , Ziya KirkaliZiya Kirkali More articles by this author , and Amy CorneliAmy Corneli More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002621.11AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Ureteral stents are often employed after ureteroscopy, and subsequently require removal. Despite this requirement, to date, no studies have qualitatively described patients’ experiences with removing indwelling ureteral stents following ureteroscopy for stone disease. The objective of this study was to describe the qualitative experiences of patients undergoing ureteral stent removal. METHODS: The USDRN Study to Enhance Understanding of Stent-Associated Symptoms (STENTS) is a prospective observational cohort study that included a nested cohort of participants who completed qualitative in-depth interviews (n=38) within 30 days after stent removal. Participants were asked to reflect on (1) painful or bothersome aspects of stent removal (2) symptoms immediately after removal, and (3) symptoms in the days after removal. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a rigorous qualitative method (applied thematic analysis). RESULTS: Of the 38 participants, 21 (55%) were female, with ages ranging from 13 to 77 years. Interviews were conducted 7–30 days (median = 16 days) after stent removal. Almost all participants (n=31) reported experiencing either pain or discomfort at some point during stent removal, but this was of short duration for most. Many (n=21) also described anticipatory anxiety related to the procedure, and several (n=11) discussed discomfort arising from lack of privacy, embarrassment, or feeling exposed (Table). Interactions with medical providers had the potential to ease patient concerns, or conversely, to increase discomfort. Following stent removal, several participants (n=18) described persistence of pain and/or urinary symptoms, but for most, these largely resolved within 24 hours. Only a few reported lingering symptoms more than a day after stent removal. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings expand the understanding of patient experiences during and shortly after ureteral stent removal, and importantly, identify opportunities for improvement. Patients experience psychological distress related to stent removal, which has not been described previously. Optimal communication before and during the removal procedure, and about the possibility of delayed pain, may improve patient experience. Source of Funding: NIH/NIDDK © 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 207Issue Supplement 5May 2022Page: e840 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Carrie Dombeck More articles by this author Charles Scales More articles by this author Kevin McKenna More articles by this author Teresa Swezey More articles by this author Jodi Antonelli More articles by this author Alana Desai More articles by this author Jonathan Harper More articles by this author Michele Curatolo More articles by this author Naim Maalouf More articles by this author Peter Reese More articles by this author Rebecca McCune More articles by this author Hussein Al-Khalidi More articles by this author Ziya Kirkali More articles by this author Amy Corneli More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF DownloadLoading ...