Double J ureteral catheter. Clinical complications

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical complications of double-J ureteral catheters. METHODS: The most relevant studies published in the literature since the self-retaining indwelling catheter was first described in 1967 are reviewed. RESULTS: The experience and results reported in the most relevant studies are presented. CONCLUSIONS: The double-J ureteral stent has become an integral part of the urological armamentarium. It allows good urinary drainage from the kidney to the bladder and is generally safe and well-tolerated. However, different complications may occur with short- or long-term use of indwelling stents. These complications vary from minor side effects such as hematuria, dysuria, frequency, flank and suprapubic pain, to major complications such as vesico-ureteric reflux, stent migration, encrustation, urinary infection, stent fracture, necrosis and ureteral fistula. Most of these complications require removal of the catheter.