Postoperative Complications and Inflammatory Markers of Stented vs. Non-Stented Pyeloplasty in Pediatric Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

Introduction: Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction (UPJO) is a common congenital anomaly in pediatric patients, often requiring surgical intervention. Pyeloplasty, the gold standard treatment for UPJO, can be performed with or without a stent. This study aims to compare postoperative complications and inflammatory marker profiles in pediatric patients undergoing stented versus non-stented pyeloplasty for UPJO. Materials and methods: This Quasi-Experimental study was conducted at the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, from July 2022 to December 2022. Pediatric patients aged up to 12 years with Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction (UPJO) who were admitted to the Pediatric Surgery department for pyeloplasty were considered as the study population. A total of 31 children were selected as study subjects by purposive sampling technique. A p-value less than or equal to 0.05 was considered as a level of significance. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 was used for this purpose. Results: The mean age was significantly lower in the stented group (30.50 months) compared to the non-stented group (68.27 months, p=0.02). Postoperative Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) were higher in the stented group at 1 month (62.5%) compared to the non-stented group (46.7%) but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.481). The stented group had a shorter drain tube duration (3.20 days) compared to the non-stented group (4.40 days, p=0.003). Complications such as incisional hernia, wound infection, and stent migration were similar across both groups, with no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: The stented group had slightly higher UTI rates and inflammatory responses initially, these differences were not significant. The non-stented group had a longer drain tube duration. Overall, both techniques are safe and effective, and the choice of approach should be tailored to the individual patient's needs IAHS Medical Journal Vol 9(1), June 2026; 68-72