Self-removal stents are a safe and economical option for healthcare providers*, but several members of our kidney stone community have expressed worries about removing a stent at home. Reasons include a lack of experience with self-removal stents and misconceptions that stent removals should be done in-office.

#Urologists, what are some of your best tips for removing a stent at home?

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Patient removal of ureteral stent with extraction string is safe and economical

Kidney stones in children are often an indication of serious anatomical and blood disorders. Worried parents in our community have been consulting multiple specialists about their children’s kidney stones!

A recent study by Önal et al found that various disciplines adopt different approaches when presented with pediatric kidney stones. This results in conflicting decisions that may impede therapeutic outcomes. #Urologists, it may be helpful to develop a multi-disciplinary team for your pediatric patients!

63% of physicians have reported at least one symptom of burnout, according to a new study led by Dr. Tait Shanafelt. This marks the “biggest increase of emotional exhaustion ever”, due to a mix of old and new factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and diminishing opportunities to engage in quality patient interaction. Healthcare institutions can help by connecting physicians with their most meaningful activities.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), such as excessive night-time urination, are common in older men with enlarged prostates. ​

In an interview with Urology Times, however, Kevin T. McVary, M.D., highlights the prevalence of stigmas surrounding enlarged prostates, and their impact on health outcomes. Fearing a cancer-related diagnosis, patients are avoiding seeking medical attention, resulting in a poorer prognosis and delayed treatment*.​

Prostate health-related stigmas can be difficult to overcome, but urologists can help by enhancing their patient outreach and education efforts!​

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Common misconceptions about enlarged prostates by patients and physicians

Many stone patients believe that beer can help them to pass smaller stones since it is a natural diuretic that increases one’s urine volume. However, beer can also encourage the formation of calcium oxalate crystals, resulting in the development of more kidney stones.​
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Drinking beer to ease kidney stone pain is one of the common stone-related myths around. Help your patients by sharing this article with them.

CT scans are the gold standard for stone imaging, but recurrent stone patients who undergo multiple CT scans a year may be concerned about the risks of radiation overexposure. ​
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Urologists, you can ease your patients’ fears by sharing about the ALARA principle and discussing alternative imaging options. Address your patients’ concerns by sharing this article with them!