Ureteral metallic stents: Application of virtual endoscopy for ureteral patency control

Objective: In the present study we haveapplied virtual endoscopy (VE) in patients withureteral metallic stents as a follow-up toolstudy especially in the need to define ureteralpatency.Methods: We performed the suggestedtechnique in 6 patients with malignant ureteralobstruction treated successfully by placementof Wallstent intraureteral metallic stents, andcorrelated the results with antegradenephrostomography 48 hours after initial stentplacement.Results: In 2 patients restenosis wasobserved, and in the remaining 4 patients thestented ureters remained patent during thefollow up evaluation. VE and antegradenephrostomography, were concurrent as to theirfindings. Moreover, VE proceeds beyond thestenotic segment, allowing visualization of theureteral lumen both cephalad and caudal to thepoint of obstruction.Conclusion: VE is providing indeed a moreaccurate, direct and dynamic approach in theevaluation of a strictured ureteral lumenwithin the metallic stent.