{"entity":{"id":"ureteric-stents-and-nephrostomy","kind":"technology","name":"Ureteric stents and nephrostomy tubes for malignant ureteric obstruction (Memokath 051)","aka":["Ureteric stent","Double-J stent","Nephrostomy","Percutaneous nephrostomy","Memokath 051","Metal ureteric stent"],"tldr":"When cancer in the pelvis blocks the tubes from the kidneys, a stent inside the tube or a drain through the back into the kidney lets urine flow again and protects kidney function.","summary":"NICE recommends the Memokath 051 ureter stent \"as an option to manage ureteric obstruction in adults with: malignant ureteric obstruction and anticipated medium- or long-term survival after adjunctive therapy\", and in some benign cases (HTG651, formerly MTG75, published 7 December 2022, which replaced MTG35). NICE notes it is less invasive than nephrostomy and needs fewer replacements than other stents, and asks for prospective data collection. Ureteral stents are FDA product code FAD (21 CFR 876.4620); nephrostomy catheters are code LJE, for example Cook's Cook-Cope loop and Ultrathane nephrostomy sets (K191498, 29 January 2020).","status":"standard-of-care","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"NICE HTG651: Memokath 051 Ureter stent for ureteric obstruction","url":"https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/htg651"},{"label":"FDA product code FAD: ureteral stent","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?ID=FAD"},{"label":"FDA 510(k) K191498: Cook-Cope loop and Ultrathane nephrostomy sets (29 January 2020)","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K191498"}],"tags":["devices-gaps-2026-11"],"related":[],"cancers":["cervical","urothelial","prostate","colorectal"],"sections":["supportive-care","devices"],"technologies":["self-expanding-metal-stents","palliative-care"],"targets":[],"drugs":["indigotindisulfonate"],"companies":["cook-medical"],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"provenance":{"editedBy":"OnCo device gap fill (openFDA, accessdata.fda.gov, NICE, Europe PMC, maker pages)","editedOn":"2026-11-04"},"principle":"A stent placed through the bladder holds the ureter open across the obstruction; a nephrostomy catheter placed through the skin of the back under imaging drains the kidney directly into an external bag.","strengths":["Relieves obstruction and protects kidney function","Memokath needs fewer replacements than standard stents (NICE)"],"limitations":["Stent discomfort, encrustation and migration","A nephrostomy bag affects daily life"],"since":2020},"route":"/technologies/ureteric-stents-and-nephrostomy/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"urothelial","kind":"cancer","name":"Bladder & urothelial cancer","route":"/cancers/urothelial/"},{"id":"cervical","kind":"cancer","name":"Cervical cancer","route":"/cancers/cervical/"},{"id":"colorectal","kind":"cancer","name":"Colorectal cancer","route":"/cancers/colorectal/"},{"id":"prostate","kind":"cancer","name":"Prostate cancer","route":"/cancers/prostate/"}],"section":[{"id":"devices","kind":"section","name":"Devices & Physical Therapies","route":"/fronts/devices/"},{"id":"supportive-care","kind":"section","name":"Supportive Care & Survivorship","route":"/fronts/supportive-care/"}],"technology":[{"id":"palliative-care","kind":"technology","name":"Early integrated palliative care","route":"/technologies/palliative-care/"},{"id":"self-expanding-metal-stents","kind":"technology","name":"Self-expanding metal stents for malignant obstruction (oesophagus, duodenum, colon, bile duct, airway)","route":"/technologies/self-expanding-metal-stents/"}],"drug":[{"id":"indigotindisulfonate","kind":"drug","name":"Indigotindisulfonate sodium (indigo carmine)","route":"/drugs/indigotindisulfonate/"}],"company":[{"id":"cook-medical","kind":"company","name":"Cook Medical","route":"/companies/cook-medical/"}]}}