Therapeutic efficacy of allium stent combined with balloon dilation as a curative modality for benign ureteral strictures: a retrospective clinical outcomes analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Allium stent's efficacy as a curative treatment for benign ureteral strictures, bridging the gap between endoscopic management and surgical reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 101 patients with benign ureteral strictures treated with Allium stents (2018-2024). Inclusion criteria were benign strictures and complete follow-up data. Treatment success was defined as hydronephrosis improvement, symptom resolution, stability of renal function, and absence of reintervention for at least 12 months postremoval. Outcomes were assessed via ultrasonography at 3-month intervals. RESULTS: The overall curative success rate was 63.36% (64/101), with a median follow-up of 22.5 months (range: 12-50 months). Etiologies included ureteral stones (56.94%), anastomotic strictures (30.69%), polyps (9.9%), and Retroperitoneal Fibrosis (6.95%). A significantly lower success rate was observed in the >2 cm group compared to the ≤2 cm group (48.84% vs. 74.14%, P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified anastomotic stricture (OR = 0.347, 95% CI: 0.041-2.886) and stricture length (OR = 0.255, 95% CI: 0.064-0.898) as independent predictors of success. For strictures ≤2 cm, optimal outcomes occurred with 12-24 months' stent retention (92.86% success). CONCLUSION: The Allium stent demonstrated satisfactory curative potential for benign ureteral strictures (63.36% curative success rate), particularly in shorter strictures. Etiology and stricture length were independent predictors of success. Twelve to twenty-four months appears as the optimal indwelling duration, offering a viable minimally invasive alternative to reconstruction surgery.