Introduction: Urinary stones constitute the third most common disease of the urinary tract after urinary tract infections and prostate pathologies. Ureteric stones may cause many complications such as renal/ureteric colic, ureteric/ renal obstruction, hydroureteronephrosis, and infections like pyelonephritis and pyonephrosis. The treatment of ureteric stones includes ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) semi-rigid or flexible, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, medical expulsive therapy (MET), and laparoscopic surgery. Compared to other procedures, URS has a greater stone freerate.The insertion of ureteric stents routinely, reduces the risk of ureteral obstruction, hydronephrosis, renal colic, ease the path for drainage of stone fragments from ureter to the bladder,prevent steinstrasse formation, promotes healing of any mucosal injury caused during surgeries and prevents the ureteric stricture formation. Still, the use of ureteric stents for the treatment of ureteric stones is debatable due to the stent-associated symptoms and complications.Our study aimed to evaluate the role of ureteric stents in resolution of hydronephrosis in ureteric stone patients following URSL.

Methods: This was an analytical study with prospective and retrospective approach. Our study involved 390 ureteric stone patients who underwent URSL [295 patients (75.6%) with double J stent placement and 95 patients (24.3%) without double J stent placement]. Data consisting of baseline characteristics, pre-operative status, intraoperative characteristics, and postoperative complications were collected from and presented descriptively. The patients were divided into two groups based on double J stent placement or not. Comparison of hydronephrosis resolution between the groups was analysed with Chi-square test.

Results: Impacted ureteric stones were the most common indication of ureteric stent placement following URSL (30.5%). Dysuria was the most frequent symptom that occurred in patients undergoing stent insertion with a total of 41 patients (13.8%) and 18 patients (6.1%) had the major complaint of low back pain. Among the patient in the non-stenting group increased frequency was present in 5 patients (5.2%) and low back pain and haematuria in 3 patients (3.1%) each. After stenting, 270 patients (91.5%) had their hydronephrosis resolved significantly compared with 39 (75%) patients in the non-stent placement group (p< 0.05). The analysis results showed that stent placement had a significant effect on the decrement of postoperative hydronephrosis in patients who had preoperative hydronephrosis.

Conclusion: Ureteric stenting significantly reduces/resolves pre-operative hydronephrosis after URS lithotripsy in patients with ureteric stone. Ureteral stent placement should be the preferred method for the treatment of preoperative hydronephrosis due to ureteric stones.