Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41870644›Full record

SynthesisWorld journal of urology2026

Complications and symptom burden of ureteral double-J stents: a systematic review of prevalence, risk factors, and management strategies.

Yuan Wen Ooi, Arianna Pischetola, Selcuk Guven, Theodoros Tokas, Vineet Gauhar, Steffi Kar Kei Yuen, Bhaskar K Somani

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in World journal of urology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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

7 authors.

Yuan Wen Ooi *University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD, UK. yuanwen13@gmail.com.
Arianna Pischetola *Faculty of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Selcuk GuvenSchool of Medicine, Department of Urology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
Theodoros TokasDepartment of Urology, Medical School, University General Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Vineet GauharDepartment of Urology, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Steffi Kar Kei YuenDepartment of Surgery, SH Ho Urology Centre, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Bhaskar K SomaniDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDouble-J (DJ) ureteral stents are essential for managing urinary tract obstruction, infection, and perioperative drainage, but up to 80% of patients develop stent-relayed symptoms (SRS), and serious events such as encrustation, infection, and calcification often needing intervention. This review assesses the prevalence, risk factors, and management of DJ stent complications.

methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD420251111481), MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central were searched (2015–2025) for English-language adult studies on DJ stents reporting complications or management. Pediatric, transplant, and pregnant populations, case reports, reviews, and animal studies were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. The primary outcome was complication incidence, with PICO framework: (P) adults with DJ stent; (I) management of stent-related complications; (O) incidence, type, and pattern of complications and risk factors.

resultsForty-three studies (22,058 patients) were included. Urolithiasis was the main indication, followed by perioperative support, obstructive uropathy, and malignancy. Overall, 7,363 complications were reported. The most frequent were lower urinary tract symptoms (38.9%), pain (16.1%), hematuria (11.37%) and infectious complications (11.1%). Mechanical complications (13.3%), predominantly stent encrustation, and renal dysfunction (2%) also occurred. About one in three patients had at least one complication, often requiring readmission. Stent dwell time (7 days to 147 months) was strongly associated with encrustation and need for endourological intervention. Risk of bias was generally moderate.

conclusionsDJ stent-related complications are common, particularly LUTS, hematuria, pain, and encrustation. Prolonged dwell time markedly increases morbidity, underscoring the need for standardized follow-up and better patient education to reduce preventable events and improve outcomes.

Indexed as

Postoperative ComplicationsStentsUreterUreteral ObstructionHumansPrevalenceRisk FactorsSymptom BurdenDJ stent complicationsPostoperative complicationsStent encrustationUreteral obstructionUreteral stent symptoms

Identifiers

PMID41870644

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.