Metallic Stent Overcomes Uretral Obstructions

A metallic uretral stent may allow patients with malignant uretral obstruction to avoid the discomfort and disfigurement associated with placement of a nephrostomy tube.

The Resonance metallic uretral stent incorporates a specially designed metallic hollow tube that relieves obstruction in the ureter. With normal drainage, the patient is able to channel toxins produced during chemotherapy without the need for placement of a nephrostomy drainage tube during treatments. The stent has a 12-month indwelling time that allows for normal long-term renal drainage, eliminating the need for numerous and painful stent changes.

Despite the initial higher costs of the metallic stent when compared to plastic stents, the stent's design provides superior compressive and radial strengths, resisting up to 25 times more extrinsic compression than that needed to occlude plastic stents. Additionally, the placement system leads to precise stent placement, and an internal safety wire minimizes risk during placement and removal. As a result, use of the Resonance may dramatically reduce hospital admissions and their associated costs. The Resonance metallic urethral stent is made by Cook Urology, a division of Cook Medical (Bloomington, IN, USA).

"Cook continues to be the innovator across a wide range of urological procedures. The uniquely designed Resonance stent will have a significant, positive impact on the patient's quality of life as a result of the Resonance stent's extended indwelling term,” said Jerry French, senior vice president and global strategic business unit leader for Cook Urology. "No longer will patients need to suffer from the pain and discomfort caused by repeated hospitalizations for stent changes.”

The dramatic rise in gender-specific cancers, such as ovarian and prostate cancer, which often causes extrinsic uretral compression, has led to a more aggressive approach to treatment. This in turn has led to an increased awareness of the need for uretral drainage during chemotherapy-based cancer treatment.


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