Review Article
William Taylor, Tamer El-Hu
Abstract
Stent technology has progressed dramatically over the past 100 years. JJ stents are essential tools for any urologist. They do have however have their own limitations with complications including stone formation, infection,reflux, stent pain, migration and importantly encrustation, which therefore requires stent changes every 3-6 months.Metal stents have been used to try to minimise these complications with mixed results. In this paper we look specifically at the Memokath 051 thermo-expandable stent and the available evidence for its use in the treatment of benign and malignant ureteric strictures. The Memokath 051 thermo-expandable stent is better tolerated than the conventional JJ stents and provides a statistically significant improvement in the patients’ quality of life as well as low rates of bladder irritation, stent encrustation, reflux and flank pain. It also requires less frequent changes than conventional JJ stents which significantly reduces the episodes of hospital admissions and subsequently their possible associated morbidities, this also makes it a cost effective treatment option.