Dexamethasone for Ureteral STent Symptoms (DUSTS)

Launched by THE METHODIST HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · Apr 9, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Dexamethasone for Ureteral Stent Symptoms (DUSTS) trial is studying whether a higher dose of dexamethasone, a long-acting steroid, can help reduce urinary symptoms and pain after a procedure called ureteroscopy, which is done to treat kidney stones. In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a high dose of 20 mg or a standard dose of 4 mg of dexamethasone during surgery. The main goal is to see if the higher dose improves patients' quality of life two days after the surgery.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be between 18 and 70 years old, scheduled for a ureteroscopy with a ureteral stent placed, and able to read and understand English. They will need to follow up at the clinic for check-ups two days and again between four to seven days after the surgery. Participants will also keep a diary of their medications and answer questionnaires about their symptoms on the first and second days after surgery. This study is currently not recruiting participants, but it aims to find out if a higher dose of dexamethasone can make the recovery experience better for patients dealing with stent-related symptoms.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age 18-70 years old
• • 2. Patients who are undergoing unilateral retrograde ureteroscopy (semi-rigid or flexible) with planned ureteral stent placement for treatment of renal/ureteral stones
• • 3. Patients who can read and understand English
• • 4. Patients who can follow up post-operatively within 7 days at Houston Methodist Hospital
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Untreated UTI
• • 2. HbA1c ≥6.5 on preoperative testing
• • 3. Patients with prior diagnosis of any type of diabetes mellitus
• • 4. Patients with immunosuppression, including chronic corticosteroid use
• • 5. Patients with bleeding disorder
• • 6. Patients with chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
• • 7. Patients taking strong CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors within two weeks of screening
• • 8. Chronic opioid analgesic use
• • 9. Congenital renal abnormalities (e.g. pelvic kidney, ureteric duplication) that may impair stent placement
• • 10. Concurrent genitourinary malignancy
• • 11. Urinary diversion
• • 12. Renal transplantation
• • 13. History of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, prostatitis, pelvic pain due to other conditions (e.g. endometriosis)
• • 14. Neurologic disorder (e.g. spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida)
• • 15. Pregnant or breastfeeding
• • 16. Patients with cognitive impairments or untreated psychiatric illness