The outcome with ureteric stents for managing non‐urological malignant ureteric obstruction

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical outcome using ureteric stents to manage ureteric obstruction in advanced non‐urological malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the use of ureteric stents (Endo‐sof, Cook Urological, Spencer, IN, USA) placed for malignant ureteric obstruction from June 2001 to September 2006. The clinical and radiological variables for predicting the failure of stent insertion, functional stent failure and death were analysed. RESULTS In all, 86 patients with a non‐urological malignant ureteric obstruction were treated by ureteric stenting; 13 (15%) had failure of retrograde stent insertion, and of the remaining 73, 12 (16%) had stent failures during the subsequent follow‐up. The risk of failure for stent insertion significantly increased with male gender (hazard ratio 6.45, P = 0.028) and the presence of bladder invasion (hazard ratio 27.04, P