Ureteral Stents.

Ureteral stents have become an integral part of contemporary urologic practice over the past 20 yr. They are typically placed to prevent or relieve ureteral obstruction secondary to a variety of intrinsic or extrinsic etiologies that include obstructing ureteral calculi, ureteral strictures, congenital anomalies, retroperitoneal tumor or fibrosis, trauma, or iatrogenic injury. Ureteral stents are also commonly placed to provide urinary diversion or postoperative drainage, or to help identify and prevent inadvertent injury to the ureters before surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]