In our RAPID I pilot study, we evaluated the FloStent™, a self-expanding nitinol prostatic stent, as a bridge therapy for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and catheter-dependent urinary retention who were awaiting TURP.
Our cohort consisted of 11 men, catheterized for an average of nine months prior to enrollment. FloStent was implanted in the outpatient setting using flexible cystoscopy, and all patients were immediately catheter-free after the procedure. At three months, nearly three-quarters (73%) remained catheter-free. Symptom and flow outcomes were favorable, and patients reported no pain at any timepoint, and adverse events were limited to transient urinary retention and one case of hematuria, all managed conservatively. No device migration or encrustation was observed at the time of removal, and TURP proceeded without complication.
While this was a small feasibility study, the results suggest FloStent may reduce catheter-related morbidity. We believe these findings support further multi-center, controlled trials with larger cohorts to confirm our results.
Written by: Bilal Chughtai, MD, Department of Urology, Northwell Health, Syosset, NY; Department of Urology, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
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