PURPOSE: Urinary retention due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a frequent and serious urological emergency. This study evaluated the efficacy and clinical outcomes of the EXIME temporary prostatic stent as an alternative to traditional catheterisation. METHODS: A prospective study including 50 male patients presenting with BPH-related urinary retention or those awaiting definitive surgery was performed. The EXIME stent was inserted as an outpatient for a one-month indwelling period. Primary endpoints included voiding efficacy and ease of use. Secondary outcomes assessed sexual function restoration, pain and bacterial colonisation rates. RESULTS: Spontaneous voiding was achieved in all 50 patients with a median maximum flow rate (Qmax) of 17.8 ml/s IQR 12.9-21.7 and a median post-void residual (PVR) of 20 ml IQR 10-37. A significant restoration of sexual activity was observed, with a resumption rate of 88% among previously sexually active men (p < 0.001). Surrogate markers for bacterial colonisation improved with dipstick nitrite positivity dropping from 26% pre-insertion to 0% at removal (p < 0.001). Procedurally, 90% of insertions were graded as extremely easy to easy (VAS 1-3) and 84% of patients reported only minimal to uncomfortable pain (VAS 1-3). The failure rate was 4% with only two early removals documented. CONCLUSION: This study represents the first clinical experience on this novel innovation on the continent of Africa, demonstrating a safe, effective, and well-tolerated alternative to traditional catheterization by providing immediate symptom relief and improved outcomes regarding sexual function and bacterial colonisation thus supporting its use in the management of BPH-related urinary retention.
Ferreira et al. (Mon,) studied this question.