Modified Rendezvous Procedures for the Placement of Thermo- expandable Metallic Stents in the Treatment of Ureteral Stenosis in Renal Transplant Patients

Abstract Ureteral stenosis is the most common urological condition after renal transplantation that requires extensive technical knowledge and experience in placing thermo-expandable metal stents using a modified rendezvous procedure. The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy and safety of this procedure. A total of six female patients underwent a modified rendezvous operation to receive thermo-expandable metal stents between 2022 and 2024. Postoperative follow-up was undertaken for 1 to 24 months. All stents were successfully placed with a mean operative time of 173.0 minutes and an average hospital stay of 8.8 days. Considerable improvements in hydronephrosis were noted among all patients with no statistically significant variation in mean creatinine levels between preoperative and postoperative periods (P = 0.937). Despite a statistical difference in hemoglobin levels between preoperative measurements and those taken on the first postoperative day (P = 0.022), its clinical significance remains unclear. Moreover, we observed no statistically significant difference in preoperative versus postoperative leukocyte counts (P = 0.410). All stents currently remain suitably positioned and functionally stable. In summary, a modified rendezvous procedure in this study demonstrates both safety and efficacy in treating ureteral stenosis after renal transplantation using thermo-expandable metal stents.