THE UROLUME, A PERMANENTLY IMPLANTED PROSTATIC STENT FOR PATIENTS AT HIGH-RISK FOR SURGERY - RESULTS FROM 5 COLLABORATIVE CENTERS

Ninety-six men considered unfit for prostatic surgery underwent the insertion of a permanently implanted super alloy mesh stent (Urolume) at 5 European centres. Ninety were able to void immediately, 2 required a second stent to enable them to void and 4 voided after a period of suprapubic catheter drainage. Seven patients required the subsequent insertion of a further stent to cover the prostatic urethra completely and in 8 cases the stent was removed. Objective and symptomatic evidence of relief of bladder outflow obstruction was shown throughout the period of study. Severe irritative symptoms were seen in the majority of patients for periods of up to 3 months and resulted in removal of the stent in 3. At 12 months, 15 of 27 patients who underwent cystoscopy had complete epithelialisation of the stent and in 11 cases there was more than 70% epithelialisation. Fourteen patients developed encrustation on exposed parts of the stent during follow-up. This was associated with the development of a urinary infection in 9. The positioning of the stent in subsequent studies has been altered to overcome this problem.