Tandem Resonance metallic double-J ureteral stents in a single ureter for salvage management of chronic ureteral obstruction

Abstract

For chronic malignant and benign ureteral obstruction, the metal construction of the Resonance ureteral stent has been developed to maintain ureteral patency for up to 12 months, obviating the need for the frequent exchange required for conventional plastic ureteral stents. We report our experience placing tandem Resonance stents (TRS) in a single ureter of patients who failed management with a single Resonance stent. A retrospective review of patients who had TRS for management of ureteral obstruction between February 2014 and May 2017 was performed. Seven renal units from four patients with a median age of 62 years were managed with TRS. All but one renal unit was successfully managed with TRS initially. Hydronephrosis resolved in 80% of renal units at a median of 33 days, and creatinine reached its nadir a median of 38 days after placement, with a median improvement of 0.68 ng/mL. However, the median length of management with TRS was only 123.5 days with one exchange, and there was an overall success rate of 28.5% at 1 year. TRS placement is a feasible option for short-term management in a challenging population that would like to avoid nephrostomy and has failed other modalities.