Supine Endoscopically-Combined Intrarenal Surgery (ECIRS) for Encrusted Ureteral Stent with Staghorn Calculi, Ureterolithiasis and Cystolithiasis

Abstract

A forgotten and encrusted ureteral stent poses as a management dilemma especially when the encrustations are so severe that they involve the entire length of the ureteral stent. These can lead to staghorn formation, high volume ureterolithiasis and giant cystolithiasis which are all encasing the ureteral stent, This may lead to significant morbidity and mortality as a result of chronic urinary obstruction, recurrent urinary tract infection, and renal dysfunction and renal failure.

During the acute phase of the pandemic, a 31-year-old pregnant female, with 9 weeks age of gestation, underwent insertion of an indwelling ureteral stent for an obstructing renal pelvic calculus. She was lost to follow-up only to return two years later, with right flank and lower abdominal pains. Non-contrast CT showed encasement of the ureteral stent with a staghorn calculus on the proximal coil, extensive encrustations on the upper and middle segments, and a giant cystolithiasis at the distal coil of the ureteral stent. She underwent a supine endoscopically-combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS), allowing retrograde retrieval of the ureteral stent after all the encrustations had been removed. There was minimal blood loss and no intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Encrusted ureteral stents with large stone burden may be treated effectively and safely with an endoscopically-combined intrarenal surgery. This combined antegrade and retrograde approaches to the urinary tract allows synchronous