INTRODUCTION: Brachytherapy may be complicated by serious obstructive voiding symptoms (OVS).
Only conservative treatment options are available in the first 6 months after brachytherapy. We evaluated safety, efficacy and patient tolerance of the Memokath prostatic stent (MPS).
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A MPS was placed in 10 patients with OVS after brachytherapy. Evaluation included uroflowmetry, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), prostate volume and urethrocystoscopy before and 3 months after placement of the stent.
RESULTS: Both the IPSS and uroflowmetry results significantly improved after stent insertion. The mean IPSS decreased from 29/5 to 11/1 and the mean Qmax from the uroflowmetry improved from 4.7 to 11.2 ml/s. The 5 patients who were catheter dependent voided spontaneously with a mean Qmax of 15 ml/s. Two stents migrated towards the bladder, and those patients needed a second stent which was placed without complications. Removal of the stent was easy to perform. Adverse effects were minor with perineal pain and irritative voiding symptoms occurring in 5 patients mainly in the first weeks after insertion. This did not negatively influence quality of life and all patients were more satisfied with the stent than without.
CONCLUSIONS: The MPS provides a safe, effective, and completely reversible treatment for patients with OVS after brachytherapy and was well tolerated.
Written by:
de Graaf GW, Stijns PE, Scheepens WA, van Moorselaar RJ, Hendrikx AJ. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Department of Urology, Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Reference: Curr Urol. 2013 Aug;7(1):19-23.
doi: 10.1159/000343547
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24917751
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