Prostatic Stents Contra-indications:    

Relative contraindications to the procedure include:

1. Meatal and urethral strictures
2. Active urinary tract infection (UTI)
3. Haematuria and patients on anti-coagulants that prevents adequate visualisation for placement
4. Bladder calculi
5. A large Prostatic median lobe that hampers satisfactory placement
6. Bladder neck stenosis
7. A prostatic urethra shorter than 2cm (Fibrous prostate) as the least product length is 3 Cm.

Complications of Prostatic Stents:

• As with any surgical procedure there are potential complications, which can include: perineal discomfort, light bleeding, post-void dribbling. These complications are common and usually subside after few days.
• More serious complications can include: Stent migration into the distal urethra or bladder, encrustation and stone formation on the stent that can obstruct the lumen.

Indications and exclusion criteria:

1. Included severe respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
2. Excluded bladder carcinoma and prostatic carcinoma, calculi or detrusor failure
3. Normal coagulation profile (Aspirin and Plavix are to be stopped for a week prior to the procedure)
4. Warfarin has to be replaced with low molecular wt. Heparin and stopped 12 hours prior to the procedure 

Conclusion:

The Memo-kath intra-prostatic stent is a valuable addition to the armamentarium of the urologist treating elderly men with advanced bladder outlet obstruction and associating major contra-indications for general and regional anaesthesia.