Clinical Application of a Modified Ureteral Stent Placement Technique in Ureteroscopy

Objective This study is conducted to evaluate the clinical value of a modified ureteral stent placement technique in patients undergoing ureteroscopic surgery. Methods A total of 138 patients with renal or ureteral calculi were randomized to receive either conventional or modified ureteral stent placement following ureteroscopic lithotripsy (69 per group). The primary outcome was the duration of postoperative hematuria, and the secondary outcomes included operative time, hospital stay, White blood cell count (WBC) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels, Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ), Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74), stone clearance rate, postoperative complications, and 30-day readmission rates. Results Compared with the conventional group, the modified group had shorter hematuria duration, lower WBC and PCT levels at 2 weeks, lower USSQ scores for urinary symptoms, physical pain, and sexual life at 2 weeks, and higher GQOLI-74 scores for physical, psychological, and social function at 6 weeks (all P < .05). Operative time, hospital stay, stone clearance rate, and complication and readmission rates were similar between groups (all P > .05). Conclusion The modified ureteral stent technique alleviates postoperative hematuria and stent-related symptoms, reduces early inflammatory responses, and improves quality of life without increasing adverse outcomes.