Pregnancy Outcomes in a Cohort of Patients Who Underwent Double-J Ureteric Stenting-A Single Center Experience

Treatment Approaches, Risk Factors, and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnancy Complicated by Nephrolithiasis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Objective

Nephrolithiasis is a common non-obstetric cause of abdominal pain during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate various treatment approaches for nephrolithiasis during pregnancy, identify the associated risk factors, and evaluate perinatal outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical treatment of 208 patients diagnosed with nephrolithiasis during pregnancy, admitted to Fujian Maternal and Child Health Hospital, China, between January 2020 and December 2023. Data on maternal demographic characteristics were extracted to analyze the risk factors associated with nephrolithiasis in pregnancy and to explore correlations with specific treatment modalities through Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact probability method, and univariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

The study included 208 patients, of whom 130 were managed with observation, 46 patients received symptomatic treatment with appropriate medications, and 32 patients underwent surgical intervention, specifically ureteral stent placement. Statistical analysis identified that the timing of symptom onset, presence of clinical symptoms, dilatation of ureter, location of dilation, stone size, and abnormalities in routine urine tests were significant risk factors influencing treatment modalities for nephrolithiasis in pregnancy. A statistically significant difference was observed in treatment modalities among patients with nephrolithiasis complicated by hypertensive disorders. In contrast, patients with combined hyperglycemic disorders exhibited no statistically significant difference among the different treatment modalities.

Conclusion

Effective and timely management of nephrolithiasis in pregnancy, guided by patient-specific clinical characteristics, is essential for optimizing maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Double-J Ureteral Stenting in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Pivotal or Problematic?

Background and Objectives: Double-J stents are urinary catheters that are frequently used in urology. They are now also used in other specialist areas such as obstetrics and gynecology. However, the use of double-J stents is not without side effects. The aim of this review was to highlight the indications and possible adverse effects of the use of these stents in obstetrics and gynecology. Materials and Methods: We analyzed works published after 1995 in the PUBMED, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases related to the use of double-J stents in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as reported adverse events. We carried out a narrative review of the available literature on this topic. Results: We identified 69 relevant publications that we included in the review. In obstetrics, indications include the treatment of gestational hydronephrosis, some urological conditions during pregnancy, such as obstructive urinary calculi, with or without superinfection, or intraoperative use for cesarean section or hysterectomy after cesarean section, to protect from, or to solve, ureteral lesions. In gynecology, they are used preoperatively or intraoperatively to protect the ureter during gynecological operations in the pelvic area or postoperatively to repair some ureteral injuries. They are also indicated for ureteral obstructions that occur after pelvic radiotherapy for gynecological neoplasms. Complications associated with the use of double-J stents include more frequent urinary tract infections, lower urinary tract symptoms, calcifications and misplacements. Conclusions: Double-J stents are widely used in obstetrics and gynecology and are characterized by good efficiency and safety, although some side effects may occur (lower urinary tract symptoms, hematuria, complications in birth outcomes), which do not limit their use. Summary of evidence: In this review, we analyzed the indications and complications of double-J ureteral stenting in obstetric and gynecologic patients. We found that the procedure is safe, both in the treatment of ureteral obstruction and in the resolution of postoperative complications. No serious complications of ureteral stenting have been noted that would constitute a contraindication to its use. Future prospective studies in large patient cohorts are necessary to validate our data.

Neonatal outcomes after intervention for suspected renal colic in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To compare neonatal outcomes following URS, stent, or PCN in pregnant women presenting with suspected renal colic.

METHODS

Women undergoing a procedure for suspected renal colic during pregnancy at a large multi-center institution between 2008 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed and categorized by initial intervention. Neonatal outcomes were recorded and linked to maternal and obstetric data. Groups were compared by a Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA, or Fisher's Exact test, followed by pairwise post-hoc testing as appropriate (α = 0.05). Multivariate analyses were also conducted.

RESULTS

95 patients were analyzed, of whom 32 were managed with PCN, 47 with stent, and 16 with URS. Maternal baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for lower gravidity and parity in the stent group. Rates of premature delivery did not differ, but gestational age at delivery was lower in the PCN group versus the stent and URS groups (p = 0.006 and p = 0.025, respectively). Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission rates were higher in the PCN group versus the stent and URS groups (p = 0.006 and 0.036, respectively). Respiratory distress syndrome significantly differed between groups (p = 0.041). Neonatal birth weight, Apgar scores, and other complications did not significantly differ.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated higher rates of NICU admissions and lower gestational age at delivery for neonates born to mothers managed with PCN compared to stent and URS. Larger multi-institutional studies are warranted to further explore these associations.

Multidrug-Resistant Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnant Patients and Their Association with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes-A Retrospective Study

Background/Objectives: Multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections (MDR UTIs) constitute an important public health problem, especially in pregnant patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to characterize the bacterial spectrum and the profile of microbial resistance in cases of UTIs occurring in pregnant women, as well as their impact on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. Methods: A total of 371 pregnant patients with UTIs were included in the analysis and were segregated into the following groups based on the type of bacterial resistance to antibiotics: MDR UTIs (70 patients, group 1), UTIs resistant to one class of antibiotics (108 patients, group 2), UTIs resistant to two classes of antibiotics (102 patients, group 3), and sensitive UTIs (91 patients, group 4). We used descriptive statistics for characterizing and comparing the microbial spectrum and the clinical characteristics of the patients. A multinomial logistic regression model for evaluating the relationship between the type of urinary tract infection and adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes was employed. Results: In the case of MDR UTIs, the bacterial spectrum mainly included Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Klebsiella species. We found almost universal resistance to ampicillin. Our data confirmed an increased risk of preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, and neonatal intensive care unit admission for patients with MDR infections. Conclusions: The increased incidence of pathogens resistant to commonly used antibiotic classes in pregnancy suggests the need for the development of local and national protocols that adapt therapeutic and prophylactic regimens to clinical realities.

Maternal-Fetal Complications in Renal Colic during Pregnancy: A Scoping Review

Renal colic is one of the most common non-obstetric causes of hospitalization in pregnant women. Its management is often a challenge for obstetricians/gynecologists, urologists and neonatologists due to the complexity of the problem. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible maternal-fetal complications in renal colic during pregnancy. The authors performed a scoping review of the current literature regarding the analyzed issues. The review was conducted using the PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science databases. The search generated a total of 237 articles, out of which 7 original studies were ultimately included in the scoping review. In the women affected by renal colic, the incidence of perinatal complications such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), and preterm birth is markedly higher than reported in the general population of pregnant women. Data regarding the recurrence of other perinatal complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), preeclampsia (PE), and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are scarce and ambiguous. Further research on these issues is needed to improve the perinatal outcomes of the affected pregnancies.

Urological Challenges during Pregnancy: Current Status and Future Perspective on Ureteric Stent Encrustation

The management of ureter hydronephrosis and urolithiasis during pregnancy has been changed by the adoption of ureteric stents. Despite their broad use for several other conditions, from emergency to elective settings, their complications cannot be ignored. Being most prevalent during pregnancy, urinary tract infections and stent encrustations are particularly common and can affect either fetal growth or maternal-fetal homeostasis, leading to obstetric complications. The main concern associated with ureteric stents is the indwelling time, which could represent the potential trigger of those complications. However, to ensure the optimal management of a ureteric stent during pregnancy, factors such as the grading of encrustations and the presence, size, and location of stones should be evaluated in pre-operative planning. As a consequence, a multimodal approach, including obstetrics, gynecologists, urologists, and nurses, is essential to ensure a complication-free procedure and successful ureteric stent removal. Finally, future research should focus on utilizing biodegradable and biocompatible materials to reduce and even eliminate the complications related to forgotten stents in order to reduce the financial burden associated with stent replacement and the management of stent-encrustation-related complications.

Urinary Tract Infections with Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Urology Clinic-A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to analyze the factors associated with the increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) with carbapenem-resistant (CR) Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn) and the antibiotic resistance spectrum of the strains in patients. As secondary objectives, we elaborated the profile of these patients and the incidence of different types of carbapenemases.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective case-control study in which we compared a group of 62 patients with urinary tract infections with CR Kpn with a control group consisting of 136 patients with urinary tract infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR), but carbapenem-sensitive (CS), Kpn, who were hospitalized between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2024.

RESULTS

Compared to patients with urinary tract infections with CS Kpn, patients with urinary tract infections with CR Kpn were preponderant in rural areas (62.9% vs. 47.1%, p = 0.038) and more frequently had an upper urinary tract infection (69.4% vs. 36.8%, p < 0.01). Among the risk factors examined, patients in the study group had a higher presence of urinary catheters inserted for up to one month (50% vs. 34.6%, p = 0.03), rate of hospitalization in the last 180 days (96.8% vs. 69.9%, p < 0.01) and incidence of antibiotic therapy in the last 180 days (100% vs. 64.7%, p < 0.01). They also had a higher rate of carbapenem treatment in the last 180 days (8.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). Patients in the study group had a broader spectrum of resistance to all antibiotics tested (p < 0.01), with the exception of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, where the resistance rate was similar in both groups (80.6% vs. 67.6%, p = 0.059). In the multivariate analysis, transfer from other hospitals (OR = 3.51, 95% and CI: 1.430-8.629) and treatment with carbapenems in the last 180 days (OR = 11.779 and 95% CI: 1.274-108.952) were factors associated with an increased risk of disease compared to the control group. The presence of carbapenemases was observed in all patients with CR Kpn, in the order of frequency New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM) (52.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) (32.6%), and carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinase (Oxa-48) (15.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The environment of origin and previous treatment with carbapenems appear to be the factors associated with an increased risk of urinary tract infection with CR Kpn compared to patients with urinary tract infections with CS Kpn. CR Kpn exhibits a broad spectrum of antibiotic resistance, among which is resistance to carbapenem antibiotics.

Efficacy and Safety of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) in Patients With Infected Ureterohydronephrosis Due to Ureteral Stones Following Double-J Catheter Insertion

INTRODUCTION

Double-J ureteral catheters in patients with ureteral lithiasis undergoing extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) procedures reduce the efficacy of the procedure or have no effect on the stone-free rate. However, the effect of double-J catheters on the patients in whom they were inserted for infected hydronephrosis is not known. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ESWL procedure in patients with ureteral lithiasis and double-J catheters previously inserted for infected hydronephrosis.

METHOD

We conducted a comparative case-control, match-paired study in a group of patients with ureteral lithiasis treated by ESWL from January 1, 2018, to March 1, 2023, who were divided into two groups according to the presence of the double-J catheter. For each patient with the double-J catheter from the study group, we selected one patient for the control group without the double-J catheter and matched them in terms of size, location of stones, and body mass index (BMI). We analyzed the stone-free rate and complications that occurred in the two groups.

RESULTS

Forty patients with ureteral lithiasis and a double-J catheter inserted for infected hydronephrosis were enrolled in the study group. The control group included 40 patients with ureteral stones without double-J catheters. The patients in the two groups were predominantly men with stones located in the lumbar region and on the right side and with a BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2. The stones had an average size of 0.9+/-0.12mm and 0.89+/-0.15mm, respectively (p=0.624). There was no statistically significant difference in stone-free rate between the two groups after the first session of ESWL (47.5% vs. 52.5%, p=0.502), the second (70% vs. 75%, p = 0.616), and the third session (85% vs. 87.5%, p=0.761). The rate of complications was similar in both groups (7.5% vs. 5%, p=0.761).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of double-J catheters inserted in patients with ureteral stones who underwent ESWL for infected hydronephrosis does not affect the stone-free rate of the procedure or the complication rate. The procedure of ESWL in patients with ureteral lithiasis and double-J catheters inserted for infected hydronephrosis is a safe and efficient method that can be recommended as an initial treatment alongside retrograde ureteroscopy.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Urosepsis and Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections-A Retrospective Study

Background and Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an important cause of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the main pregnancy outcomes among pregnant patients with complicated and uncomplicated UTIs; Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 183 pregnant patients who were evaluated for uncomplicated UTIs and urosepsis in the Urology Department of 'C.I. Parhon' University Hospital, and who were followed up at a tertiary maternity hospital-'Cuza-voda' from Romania between January 2014 and October 2023. The control group (183 patients) was randomly selected from the patient's cohort who gave birth in the same time frame at the maternity hospital without urinary pathology. Clinical and paraclinical data were examined. Descriptive statistics and a conditional logistic regression model were used to analyze our data. Results: Our results indicated that patients with urosepsis had increased risk of premature rupture of membranes (aOR: 5.59, 95%CI: 2.02-15.40, p < 0.001) and preterm birth (aOR: 2.47, 95%CI: 1.15-5.33, p = 0.02). We could not demonstrate a statistically significant association between intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia with the studied urological pathologies. Conclusions: Careful UTI screening during pregnancy is needed for preventing maternal-fetal complications.

Factors Associated with Increased Risk of Urosepsis during Pregnancy and Treatment Outcomes, in a Urology Clinic

Background and Objectives: Urosepsis is a significant cause of maternal and fetal mortality. While certain risk factors for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women are well established, those associated with an elevated risk of urosepsis in pregnant women with upper UTIs remain less defined. This study aims to identify factors linked to an increased risk of urosepsis and examine urologic treatment outcomes in such cases. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on 66 pregnant women diagnosed with urosepsis over a nine-year period. A control group included 164 pregnant women with upper UTIs, excluding urosepsis, admitted during the same timeframe. This study highlights factors potentially contributing to urosepsis risk, including comorbidities like anemia, pregnancy-related hydronephrosis or secondary to reno-ureteral lithiasis, prior UTIs, coexisting urological conditions, and urologic procedures. Outcomes of urologic treatments, hospitalization duration, obstetric transfers due to fetal distress, and complications associated with double-J catheters were analyzed. Results: Pregnant women with urosepsis exhibited a higher prevalence of anemia (69.7% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.006), 2nd-3rd grade hydronephrosis (81.8% vs. 52.8%, p = 0.001), and fever over 38 °C (89.4% vs. 42.1%, p = 0.001). They also had a more intense inflammatory syndrome (leukocyte count 18,191 ± 6414 vs. 14,350 ± 3860/mmc, p = 0.001, and C-reactive protein (CRP) 142.70 ± 83.50 vs. 72.76 ± 66.37 mg/dL, p = 0.001) and higher creatinine levels (0.77 ± 0.81 vs. 0.59 ± 0.22, p = 0.017). On multivariate analysis, factors associated with increased risk for urosepsis were anemia (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.622, 95% CI 1.220-5.634), 2nd-3rd grade hydronephrosis (OR 6.581, 95% CI 2.802-15.460), and fever over 38 °C (OR 11.612, 95% CI 4.804-28.07). Regarding outcomes, the urosepsis group had a higher rate of urological maneuvers (87.9% vs. 36%, p = 0.001), a higher rate of obstetric transfers due to fetal distress (22.7% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.001), and migration of double-J catheters (6.1% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.016), but no maternal fatality was encountered. However, they experienced the same rate of total complications related to double-J catheters (19.69% vs. 12.80%, p > 0.05). The pregnant women in both groups had the infection more frequently on the right kidney, were in the second trimester and were nulliparous. Conclusions: Pregnant women at increased risk for urosepsis include those with anemia, hydronephrosis due to gestational, or reno-ureteral lithiasis, and fever over 38 °C. While the prognosis for pregnant women with urosepsis is generally favorable, urological intervention may not prevent a higher incidence of fetal distress and the need for obstetric transfers compared to pregnant women with uncomplicated upper UTIs.

Predicting Preterm Birth with Strain Ratio Analysis of the Internal Cervical Os: A Prospective Study

(1) Background: Cervical elastography is a new concept that could allow clinicians to assess cervical consistency in various clinical scenarios. We aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of the strain ratio (SR) at the level of the internal os, either individually or in combination with other parameters, in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) at various gestational ages. (2) Methods: This prospective study included 114 pregnant patients with a high-risk profile for PTB who underwent cervical elastography during the second trimester. Clinical and paraclinical data were assessed using univariate analysis, logistic regression, and sensitivity analysis. (3) Results: The SR achieved an area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) value of 0.850, a sensitivity of 85.71%, and a specificity of 84.31% in the prediction of PTB before 37 weeks of gestation. The combined model showed superior results in terms of accuracy (AUROC = 0.938), sensitivity (92.31%), and specificity (95.16%). When considering PTB subtypes, the highest AUROC value (0.80) and accuracy (95.61%) of this marker were achieved in the prediction of extremely preterm birth, before 28 weeks of gestation. (4) Conclusions: The SR achieved an overall good predictive performance in the prediction of PTB and could be further evaluated in various cohorts of patients.