The manuscript by Pereira et al.[
1] provides a detailed examination of the symptoms and satisfaction levels in patients using double‐J ureteral stents. This study is significant as it addresses the common complications associated with ureteral stents, which are widely used in urological practice for managing upper urinary tract obstructions.
Recent studies have further explored the impact of ureteral stents on patients' quality of life and the mechanisms behind stent‐associated symptoms (SAS)[
2–
4]. For instance, the STENTS study[
2], a multicenter observational cohort study, investigated daily variations in SAS and found that pain intensity and urinary symptoms peak shortly after stent placement and remain elevated until removal.[
2] This study also highlighted the significant individual variability in symptom severity, suggesting that personalized approaches to stent management could be beneficial[
2].
Another study from Duke Health emphasized the need for better understanding and management of SAS, noting that over 80% of patients report impaired quality of life due to stent‐related symptoms[
3]. This research aimed to develop predictive models to identify patients at high risk for severe symptoms and explored non‐narcotic strategies to mitigate these effects.
Pereira et al.'s[
1] findings are consistent with recent research in several ways. Both the attached manuscript and recent studies highlight the high prevalence of urinary symptoms and pain associated with ureteral stents. However, Pereira et al. report a higher satisfaction rate among patients, which could be attributed to differences in study populations or methodologies. Additionally, the attached manuscript's focus on the presence of a nylon string that provides valuable on patient experience, fact that still needs to be better evaluated and perhaps could be related to patient's sense of control that if needed, stent can be self‐removed.
1 KEY FINDINGS
1.1 Prevalence of symptoms
The study reports a high prevalence of symptoms among patients using double‐J ureteral stents, with 95% of patients experiencing some form of discomfort. The most common symptoms are colic abdominal pain (77.5%), hematuria (65%), dysuria (62.5%), and urgency (52.5%). These findings align with existing literature, which also highlight the frequent occurrence of these symptoms in stent users.
1.2 Patient satisfaction
Despite the high incidence of symptoms, 55% of patients reported being satisfied with the use of the stent. This satisfaction rate was relatively high compared to other studies, which often reported lower satisfaction levels due to the discomfort associated with stent use[
3].
1.3 Impact of stent design
The study compares symptoms between patients using stents with and without a nylon extractor wire. It was found that the presence of the wire did not significantly affect the incidence of symptoms, which was consistent with findings from other research[
4].
2 STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
The strengths of Pereira et al.'s study include its detailed symptom analysis and the comparison of different stent designs. However, the study's small sample size and single‐center design may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research should aim to include larger, multicenter cohorts to validate these results and explore interventions to reduce stent‐related symptoms.
3 CONCLUSION
Pereira et al.'s work contributes valuable insights into the symptomatology and patient satisfaction associated with double‐J ureteral stents. The findings underscore the need for ongoing research to improve stent design and management strategies, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life. This manuscript serves as a call to action for urologists and researchers to address the persistent challenges associated with ureteral stents.
2024 The Author(s). UroPrecision published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Higher Education Press.
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