A Novel Technique for Simple Double-J Stent Placement after Intraperitoneal Laparoscopic Ureterolithotomy

Objective: The insertion of a double-J (DJ) stent during laparoscopic ureterolithotomy can be challenging, invasive, and time-consuming when using the various techniques available for its placement. This study aimed to present a simplified method for DJ stent placement following intraperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy. Material and Methods: Twenty-five patients with proximal ureteral stones who underwent intraperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy and placement of DJ stent between November 2023 and February 2024 in a teaching hospital were selected for this study. After the stone was successfully removed, the ureteroscope was inserted through a 5-mm trocar and passed into the distal ureter, followed by threading the guidewire through it. Subsequently, the distal tip of a 6-French DJ stent was attached to the guidewire and inserted into the distal ureter. The proximal tip of the DJ stent was guided along the wire through the ureteral incision and advanced toward the pyelum. Results: The stent was successfully placed in, on average, below 5.9 minutes. No complications were found. Postoperative plain abdominal X-ray confirmed the correct placement of the DJ stent. An efficient patient recovery was found with an average hospital stay of 2.7 days. Conclusion: This novel DJ stent placement technique, with its simple and efficient features, was found to be successful. Further comparative studies with larger patient populations are required in order to evaluate its efficacy.