Impact of the Timing of Ureteral Stent Placement on Outcomes in Patients with Obstructing Ureteral Calculi and Presumed Infection

Abstract

Objective:

To understand how time to stent placement impacts outcomes in patients with obstructing ureteral stones and concern for infection.

Materials and Methods:

Using a prospective urology consult institutional database (2011–2016), we identified patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with an obstructing ureteral stone, met two or more systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria (temperature [T] >38°C or <36°C, heart rate >90 beats per minute, respiratory rate >20 breaths per minute, white blood cell count >12 k/μL or <4 k/μ), and underwent stent placement. The primary outcome of interest was impact of stent timing on intensity of care (need for intensive care unit [ICU]) as well as overall length of stay (LOS).

Results:

Forty-eight patients were identified who met the study criteria. Overall, 58.3% had positive urine cultures. There was no difference between groups with across a range of clinical variables. While the need for ICU admission did not differ between groups, those patients who had a ureteral stent placed within 6 and 10 hours of ED arrival had a significantly decreased LOS (35.6 hours vs 71.6 hours, p = 0.01; 45.7 hours vs 82.4 hours, p = 0.04) relative to those patients who were stented outside these intervals.

Conclusion:

In patients with an obstructing ureteral calculus and concern for infection, there is a beneficial effect to timelier stent placement in the form of decreased overall LOS.