Internal Ureteral Stents for Conservative Management of Ureteral Calculi during Pregnancy

Abstract

DURING pregnancy, acute problems of the urinary tract, especially urinary calculi, are the most common cause of abdominal pain severe enough to require hospitalization. The incidence of urinary calculi during pregnancy varies from 1 in 715 to 1 in 2247 pregnancies, according to reported series.^{1 2 3 4 5 6} In the light of increasing concern about the risks of anesthestics or x-rays to mother and fetus during pregnancy, cystoscopic placement of internal ureteral tubes, or stents, between the kidney and bladder may be useful in the management of urinary calculi in pregnant women. Such a hollow stent retains its position because it has a . . .