Impact of an indwelling JJ stent on quality of life in children with urolithiasis

Background: The use of indwelling ureteral stents in patients with urolithiasis is routine practice in various clinical settings. While the beneficial effects of stenting are well established, certain negative aspects remain insufficiently discussed and studied.

Aim: To evaluate the quality of life of children with urolithiasis during the period of JJ stenting.

Materials and Methods: The study included 29 children with urolithiasis aged 2.8 to 17.9 years who underwent indwelling JJ stent placement as the first stage of surgical treatment. Quality of life was assessed prospectively in the first days after stent removal using a structured questionnaire developed by the authors. The survey included questions on pain severity, irritative urinary symptoms, general well-being, and the impact of the stent on daily activities. Additionally, urinalysis parameters were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric methods. Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.

Results: More than half of the patients (55.2%) reported moderate or severe pain during the stenting period; the mean pain score was 3.1 (median 2). Pain during urination was observed in 37.9% of children (mean 2.8, median 1). A moderate positive correlation was found between flank/abdominal pain and pain during urination (ρ = 0.475; p = 0.009). No association was identified between age, sex, and pain severity (p > 0.05). Leukocyturia ranged from 18.8 to 1303.8 cells/µL; a positive urine culture was detected in 7 of 21 examined patients (33.3%). No significant association was found between leukocyte count and bacteriuria (p > 0.05). Stent duration was not significantly associated with pain severity, leukocyturia, or bacteriuria (p > 0.05). Limitations in daily activity were reported in 69% of patients; however, in 65.5% of cases, parents did not report overall deterioration in the child’s general condition.

Conclusion: An indwelling JJ stent exerts a multifaceted impact on children, contributing to pain, irritative urinary symptoms, and limitations in daily activities. The use of structured questionnaires allows objective assessment of symptoms, improves the sensitivity of clinical monitoring, and may help optimize stent characteristics and duration in order to minimize adverse effects.