"Early" removal of the internal ureteral stent after kidney transplantation

Background. Urological complications are currently one of the main causes of the renal graft loss and the death of the recipient in the early and late periods after surgery. Objective. To reduce the risk of developing infectious complications after kidney transplantation by early removal of the internal ureteral stent. Material and methods. From June 2018 to March 2020, the Department of Organ and/or Tissue Transplantation of the City Clinical Hospital n.a. S.P. Botkin performed 89 deseased-donor kidney transplantations with the placement of an internal ureteral stent. Depending on the timing of stent removal, the patients were divided into 2 groups: the first group included 54 patients who had the stent removed on day 21, and the second group included 35 patients who had the stent removed on day 14. Results. No urological complications were recorded in both groups. Urinary tract infection was recorded in 8 patients (15%) in the first group, and in 1 patient (3%) in the second group (p = 0.01). Conclusion. Removal of the internal ureteral stent on the 14th day after kidney transplantation safely and reliably reduces the risk of a urinary tract infection development, improving the immediate results of the operation.