Chapter 3 – Urethral Stents

The first descriptions of urethro-vesical catheters date back to antiquity, when straws or palm leaves were used for this purpose. In China, Sun Shimiao (581–682 AD) used tubular leaves from green onions through which air was blown to remove the obstacle. In 1036, Avicenna sensed the need for gentle insertion of catheters and created flexible models from animal skin, treated with ox blood for firmness and lubricated with cheese. The aim of modern medicine was the development of a prosthesis, which, inserted into the urethra, would achieve recalibration only for the stenosed segment.