Editing CUA: Ureteral Calculi (2015) (section)

=== Infected obstructing ureteral stones ===

* Nephrostomy tubes vs. stents
** RCTs
*** '''NT vs. stent in patients with obstructing stone smaller than 15mm and found no difference in time to defervescence, hospital stay, resolution of obstruction, and overall clinical improvement'''§
*** X-ray exposure was shorter in the percutaneous nephrostomy group (p = 0.052). '''Administration of analgesics was more frequent in the stent group''' (p = 0.061). Percutaneous nephrostomy indwelling time was shorter (50% less than 2 weeks) than that of stents (25% less than 2 weeks, p = 0.043). Antibiotics were administered for greater than 5 days in 0% of patients who underwent percutaneous nephrostomy versus 64% in those with stents (p = 0.174). '''Reduction in quality of life was moderate but more pronounced in patients with stents compared to those who underwent percutaneous nephrostomy, and was more distinct in males and younger patients. The quality of life progressively improved in the course of diversion with percutaneous nephrostomy but deteriorated with stents.'''§