Retrograde exchange of heavily encrusted ureteric stents via the ileal conduit: a technical report

We describe two cases of retrograde ureteric stent exchange of heavily encrusted ureteric stents (JJ) via tortuous ileal conduits. The blocked ureteric stents were snared from inside the conduit so they could be accessed and a wire inserted. The lumens of the stents were unblocked with a wire but the stents could not be withdrawn due to heavy encrustation of the ureteric stent in the renal pelvis. A stiff wire was inserted to provide support and a 9 French peel away sheath was used to remove the encrustations allowing the stents to be withdrawn and exchanged. This is a safe and successful technique allowing ureteric stents to be removed when heavily encrusted.