Comparison of outcomes between 2 week versus 4 week stenting in pediatric pyeloplastyd——A single centre observational study

Objective:To compare the surgical outcomes,improvement in renal function and complications between early stent removal(2 weeks)and late stent removal(4 weeks)after pediatric open pyeloplasty.Methods:A total of 72 open pyeloplasty were included in the study.Forty-three underwent late stent removal(Group 1)and 29 underwent early stent removal(Group 2).Pre-operative and post-operative follow-up data were compared to see the effect of early stent removal on the postoperative drainage pattern at 6 months after surgery and improvement in split function of affected kidney.The complications between the two groups were also compared.Results:Both the groups were matched with respect to age,sex,side and antero-posterior diameter of pelvis.Pre-operative mean split function in Group 1 was 42%(26%e54%)while it was 39%(19%e42%)in Group 2(pZ0.37).Postoperative improvement in drainage pattern was seen in 69 out of 72(96%)patients,41 out of 43(95%)in Group 1 and 28 out of 29(97%)in Group 2.Improvement in split function occurred in 35 of 38(97%)in Group 1 and 23 of 26(88%)patients in Group 2(pZ0.51).Complications were seen in nine out of 72(12.5%)patients.Incidence of complication in Group 1 was 16%(7/43)and Group 2 was 7%(2/29),and relative risk was 2.36.Conclusion:A shorter duration of double J stenting is as effective as a longer stenting period in terms of surgical success outcomes and improvement in split renal function along with a decreased risk of stent related complications.