Office-based ureteral stent placement and stent exchange using mild sedation, local anesthesia, and no fluoroscopic guidance: safety, efficacy, and feasibility

Purpose : The aim of this study was to enhance examination outcomes for patients with chronic skeneitis through the clinical evaluation of a specialized retractor designed for the instrumental assessment of the urethra and skene’s glands. Materials and Methods : This prospective study involved 55 female participants aged 19 to 38 years, all diagnosed with skeneitis. The examinations were conducted from 2020 to 2024, and the mean duration of the disease among the participants was 8.4 ± 3.1 years. Each participant underwent two distinct physical examinations of the urethra: the first utilizing forceps and the second employing a novel instrument, with a one-week interval between assessments. The diagnostic efficacy of these examinations was evaluated based on several parameters: the duration of the examination, the condition of the urethral mucosa (noted for hyperemia and/or infiltration), and the number of identifiable SG ducts. Results : The use of the urethral speculum significantly reduced examination time by 51.6% ( P < 0.001) and increased the number of identified ducts by 1.55 times ( P < 0.001), indicating its high diagnostic efficacy. Additionally, the application of this speculum decreased pain levels by 2.3 times ( P < 0.001) and significantly reduced hematuria post-examination by 41.8% ( P < 0.001) , confirming its enhanced safety profile. Conclusion : The implementation of this original urethral viewing speculum represents an innovative, effective, and atraumatic method for visualizing the urinary tract in women with suspected skeneitis. Keywords: Paraurethral ducts and glands in women, skene's glands, skineitis, chronic skineitis, recurrent cystourethritis, female urethra, original urethral speculum