A Comparative Study of 3-Week and 6-Week Duration of Double-J Stent Placement in Renal Transplant Recipients

PURPOSE: To compare the efficiency and safety of 3-week and 6-week duration of double-J stent placement in patients who received a kidney transplant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Post-transplant recipients were divided into two groups. The duration of double-J stent placement was 6 weeks in group 1 (n = 186) and 3 weeks in group 2 (n = 179). Both groups received similar antibiotics and immunosuppressants. The double-J stents were removed cystoscopically under local anesthesia. The patients were followed up for at least 3 months. Urological complications were recorded, including urinary leakage, obstruction, and urinary tract infections. RESULTS: There were no severe urological complications in both groups. Duration of 3 weeks was as effective as 6 weeks in preventing urological complications such as urinary leak and stenoses. There was no significant difference between the two groups in average duration of macroscopic hematuria, incidents of malposition of double-J stent and calculus formation in or around the stent. Compared with group 1, patients in group 2 had a lower incidence of urinary irritation and fewer urinary tract infection episodes. CONCLUSIONS: A shorter duration of double-J stent placement in renal transplantation recipients does not increase urological complications. In addition, it may decrease urinary tract infection and urinary irritation.