PURPOSE: Assessment of the Spanner, a new temporary urethral stent to relieve bladder outflow obstruction and urinary symptoms after brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five patients with unusually severe urinary morbidity after (125)I brachytherapy were recruited. The mean time after implant was 40 days (range 25-90). Spanner intraprostatic stents were introduced using topical anesthetic without complication. RESULTS: All patients were able to void spontaneously with no post-void residual volume of urine. The flow rates increased in all cases (p=0.03) and the International Prostate Symptom Scores were significantly improved after stent insertion in all patients (p=0.03). All patients experienced some degree of pain or dysuria during stent use. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder outflow obstruction was effectively treated with the Spanner intraprostatic stent, however pain limited the use of the device in the early post-brachytherapy patient group. Pharmacotherapy, stent design modification, or smaller stent diameter may increase the utility of stents after brachytherapy.
PURPOSE: Assessment of the Spanner, a new temporary urethral stent to relieve bladder outflow obstruction and urinary symptoms after brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five patients with unusually severe urinary morbidity after (125)I brachytherapy were recruited. The mean time after implant was 40 days (range 25-90). Spanner intraprostatic stents were introduced using topical anesthetic without complication. RESULTS: All patients were able to void spontaneously with no post-void residual volume of urine. The flow rates increased in all cases (p=0.03) and the International Prostate Symptom Scores were significantly improved after stent insertion in all patients (p=0.03). All patients experienced some degree of pain or dysuria during stent use. CONCLUSIONS:Bladder outflow obstruction was effectively treated with the Spanner intraprostatic stent, however pain limited the use of the device in the early post-brachytherapy patient group. Pharmacotherapy, stent design modification, or smaller stent diameter may increase the utility of stents after brachytherapy.
Authors: Samuel T Chao; Kenneth Angermeier; Eric A Klein; Chandana A Reddy; James C Ulchaker; Andrew Stephenson; Steven Campbell; Jay P Ciezki Journal: J Contemp Brachytherapy Date: 2011-03-31
Authors: Athanasios G Papatsoris; Islam Junaid; Alexandra Zachou; Stefanos Kachrilas; Faruquz Zaman; Junaid Masood; Noor Buchholz Journal: Open Access J Urol Date: 2011-04-28