Assessment of internal ureteral stent patency in patients with pyelocaliectasis: value of renal duplex sonography.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate duplex Doppler sonography in the assessment of internal ureteral stent patency. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three kidneys with pyelocaliectasis and an internal stent were studied with Doppler sonography and conventional sonography. Stent patency was proved by subsequent contrast-enhanced studies, direct inspection of the stent after removal, or clinical follow-up. RESULTS: The 11 kidneys with stent dysfunction had a significantly higher mean resistive index (0.78 +/- 0.08) than the 22 kidneys with patent stents (resistive index = 0.62 +/- 0.05) (p < .001). Eighty-two percent (9/11) of kidneys with occluded stents had elevated resistive indexes. The two occluded stents with normal resistive indexes were found in kidneys without significant obstruction before stent placement. Ninety-one percent (20/22) of patent stents were associated with a resistive index of less than 0.70. In the two cases of falsely elevated Doppler studies, the resistive index was obtained only 24-36 hr after placement of the stent; however, the resistive index was at least 10% less than that before stent placement. No significant correlation existed between degree of pyelocaliectasis shown on real-time sonography and stent status. CONCLUSION: In the presence of pyelocaliectasis after placement of an internal ureteral stent, intrarenal Doppler sonography can be used to accurately distinguish between patency and obstruction. Real-time sonographic findings (degree of pyelocaliectasis) are not useful in this clinical situation.