HealthDay News - Computerized tomography (CT) determines proximal stone burden better than plain film X-rays do in patients with encrusted and retained ureteral stents, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
THURSDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Computerized tomography (CT) determines proximal stone burden better than plain film X-rays do in patients with encrusted and retained ureteral stents, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
John W. Weedin, M.D., from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and colleagues reviewed records of patients who underwent surgical removal of an encrusted and retained ureteral stent or nephrostomy between 2007 and 2009. Patients underwent preoperative imaging consisting of a plain X-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, and/or CT of the abdomen/pelvis. Encrusted tubes were assessed using the FECal (forgotten, encrusted, calcified) grading system, and the associated stone burden was calculated.
The investigators found 55 encrusted and retained ureteral stents, and one nephrostomy in 52 patients. The average tube duration was 24.9 months. Most tubes were removed endoscopically, and 21.2 percent of the patients required multiple procedures to remove each tube. CT graded stone burden significantly more accurately than did plain X-ray (94.9 versus 64 percent). Plain X-ray underestimated the proximal stone burden in 44.4 percent of patients who underwent multiple surgeries. Proximal stone burden correlated significantly with multiple surgeries and surgical complications.
"Accurately determining the amount of proximal encrustation/stone burden is an important part of preoperative planning and counseling. Patients with a significant amount of proximal stone burden greater than 100 mm² are at risk for requiring multiple surgeries for complete tube and stone removal," the authors write.
One of the study authors disclosed a financial relationship with Intuitive Surgical.
AbstractFull Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
New Study Examines Agreement Between Radiologists and Referring Clinicians on Follow-Up Imaging
November 18th 2024Agreement on follow-up imaging was 41 percent more likely with recommendations by thoracic radiologists and 36 percent less likely on recommendations for follow-up nuclear imaging, according to new research.
The Reading Room: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer Screenings, and COVID-19
November 3rd 2020In this podcast episode, Dr. Shalom Kalnicki, from Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses the disparities minority patients face with cancer screenings and what can be done to increase access during the pandemic.