Increased Number Of Encrusted D-J Stents In Our Clinic During The Covid-19 Pandemic And The Reliability Of Ureteroenoscopy (Rigid/Flexible) In Removing Encrusted D-J Stents

ABSTRACT Introduction: Stent encrustations that develop due to the D-J stent being forgotten or left in the body for a long time are one of the major causes of these side effects and complications. Objective: To examine the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the frequency of encrusted (petrified) D-J (double j) stent cases treated during the pandemic and the effects of the encrusted D-J stent on our patients. Methods: The data of 27 patients who underwent D-J stent removal due to encrusted stent between March 2019 and March 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The age of the patients, duration of ureteral stenting, size and location of the encrustation were examined. Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.56 ± 14.78 years. The mean length of stent stay in the body was 217.15 ± 472.08 days. The mean incrustation size was 386.96 ± 541.26 mm2. Eight of the patients had severe D-J stent incrustation, 3 had moderate D-J encrustation, and 16 had mild D-J encrustation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 200% increase in the number of cases. The encrusted D-J stents of all our patients were successfully removed via ureteroenoscopy by breaking the encrusted parts of the stents using a holmium laser, achieving complete stone removal. Conclusion: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of encrusted D-J stents. Ureterorenoscopy/flexible ureterorenoscopy is an effective treatment method for removing the encrusted D-J stent using holmium laser and achieving complete stone removal. Keyswords: COVID-19, Encrusted D-J stent, Üreteroenoscopy, Holmium laser lithotripsy, Endourology.