Tolerability of 4.7Fr versus 6Fr ureteral stents following intracorporeal lithotripsy: a single center, patient- and assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.
World J UrolSep 1, 2026 (epub)
Philip Tojo Kalloopparamban, T Balagopal Nair, Sandeep Nath et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the tolerability of 4.7Fr versus 6Fr ureteral stents in 124 patients undergoing ureterorenoscopy for urolithiasis. At three weeks, the 4.7Fr stent group reported significantly better overall Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire scores (73 ± 16 vs. 80 ± 17; p = 0.014), indicating improved tolerability despite a higher risk of stent dislodgment.
Key findings
- 4.7Fr stents resulted in better USSQ scores compared to 6Fr stents (73 ± 16 vs. 80 ± 17; p = 0.014).
- Overall, 84% of patients experienced no complications postoperatively.
- Grade 3 complications were more frequent in the 4.7Fr group (8.8% vs. 3.2%; RR = 2.6, p = 0.232).
Why it matters
Understanding the tolerability of different ureteral stent sizes can help clinicians make informed decisions to minimize patient discomfort and improve postoperative outcomes following lithotripsy.