Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40898199›Full record

ArticleBMC urology2025

A novel protocol for the characterization of ureteral stent echogenicity.

Clifford Jiajun He, Tyler Sheetz, Jonathan Katz, Vivek Pendem, Kevin Ho, Nicholas Trujillo, Sujit Tunuguntla, Robert Sah, Seth K Bechis, Roger L Sur and 1 more

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Article in BMC urology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Clifford Jiajun HeDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, 9300 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Tyler SheetzDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, 9300 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Jonathan KatzDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, 9300 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Vivek PendemJacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Kevin HoJacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Nicholas TrujilloJacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Sujit TunuguntlaJacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Robert SahJacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Seth K BechisDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, 9300 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Roger L SurDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, 9300 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Manoj MongaDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, 9300 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA. mamonga@health.ucsd.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDecreasing radiation exposure in renal colic management involves revisiting diagnostic, intraoperative, and postoperative practices. One approach is a shift in procedural standards from intraoperative fluoroscopy to ultrasonography. Despite the increased implementation of ultrasound in urology, the ultrasound visibility or echogenicity of various stents is not well-studied. Silicone stents, traditionally considered less radiopaque, pose challenges during placement under fluoroscopy due to their reduced visibility. However, a shift to ultrasound-based guidance can levels the playing field, as silicone stents demonstrate comparable echogenicity to stents made from other materials. This study aims to evaluate and quantify the echogenicity of different ureteral stents on the market, with a focus on silicone stents, which traditionally have been considered less radiopaque yet potentially advantageous for less patient discomfort.

methodsWe conducted a simulation study using five different brands of ureteral stents in an ex-vivo porcine bladder model. We measured the mean grey intensity to quantify echogenicity of each stent. After comparing the echogenicity of individual stents, we grouped stents based on materials and diameters and performed T-tests.

resultsWe established that ureteral stents can demonstrate good visibility inside porcine bladder under ultrasound. Upon further investigation, we found that diameter is the most important variable in determining the measured echogenicity of ureteral stents. 8 Fr ureteral stents have higher measured echogenicity than the Sensor wire and 6 Fr stents. Stent materials also play a role in the measured echogenicity of ureteral stents. With the same diameter, silicone is measurably more echogenic than polyurethane.

conclusionThis study describes a novel quantitative assessment of ureteral stent echogenicity, which can guide the development of novel echogenic stents and provide a benchmark for existing stents. In addition, it suggests that ultrasonography may facilitate the placement of silicone stents, which historically have been more difficult to visualize with fluoroscopy.

Indexed as

StentsUreterAnimalsProsthesis DesignSiliconesSwineUltrasonographyUrinary BladderSiliconesbiomaterialechogenicitysiliconestentultrasoundureter

Identifiers

PMID40898199
PMCPMC12403399

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.