Ten Steps to Strategic Planning for the Urinary Stents of the Future

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this chapter is to present all the current knowledge related to urinary stents. As well as to describe the future lines of research and improvement that are needed in this field of knowledge. To this end, a decalogue is described in which the main lines of research are addressed, as well as the needs for improvement of urinary stents. This research pathway must begin with an adequate understanding the side effects and complications related to urinary stents. Another very important factor is to describe the proper indication for the use of urinary stents, because if it is possible to correct their use, their adverse effects will be avoided. This is currently complicated by the lack of medical consensus on this issue. It is clear that urology needs a great deal of development of biodegradable biomaterials and coatings, which prevent biofilm formation and stent encrustation. This is one of the most important fields of development for the years to come, due to the obvious hostility of urine to current biomaterials. The development of new and improved stent designs, as well as the ability of stents to deliver drugs into the urinary tract, are also much needed lines of research.