Comparison of percutaneous antegrade double-J ureteral stent placement: first-hand vs. nephrostomy route approaches.

Objective: This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of procedural efficacy, safety, and patient outcomes between 2 distinct approaches for percutaneous antegrade double-J ureteral stent (DJS) insertion: the first-hand approach and via a nephrostomy route.

Methods: Electronic records of patients undergoing percutaneous antegrade ureteral DJS placement from January 2016 to 2023 were reviewed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on stent placement technique: the first-hand group, involving a single-stage approach without prior percutaneous nephrostomy catheter insertion, and the nephrostomy group, where stent placement occurred through a percutaneous nephrostomy tube. Clinical data, including patient demographics, primary diagnoses, procedural details, complication rates, stent placement success, and post-procedural outcomes, were collected and analysed.

Results: Both approaches demonstrated high technical success rates (93.1%). However, the nephrostomy route group exhibited a comparatively higher fluoroscopy exposure rate (8.2 min) than the first-hand group (6.8 min). Moreover, the complication risk increased by 3.08 times in patients treated with the nephrostomy method (P = .047). Notably, in cases of urinary malignancies, the preference was for placing DJS via nephrostomy.

Conclusion: The first-hand approach should be prioritized as the initial choice in suitable cases owing to its reduced fluoroscopy time, lower complication rate, and the single-stage nature of the procedure.

Advances in knowledge: With the exception of cases necessitating urgent drainage, such as post-renal acute renal failure and urosepsis, the first-hand method is the primary approach for inserting DJS. This is primarily due to the significantly shorter radiation time and the single-stage nature of the procedure.