TREATMENT OF URETERAL CATHETER RELATED SYMPTOMS; MIRABEGRON VERSUS TAMSULOSIN/SOLIFENACIN COMBINATION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

OBJECTIVES: The double-J (DJ) stents are commonly used to relieve the ureteral obstruction. Besides several known benefits, some of the patients encounter stent-related morbidities with considerable effects on the quality of life, general health situation, sexual matters, and daily work performance. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of tamsulosin/solifenacin combination and mirabegron in reducing DJ stent-related symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients with 28cm 4.7fr DJ catheter inserted due to ureteral obstruction were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided into three groups of 40 each; group one received only oral hydration for six weeks; group two received 0.4 mg tamsulosin/10 mg solifenacin, and group three received 50 mg mirabegron. Preoperative and after 6 weeks, the VAPS, OAB-q index, and IPSSs forms were filled. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 41.60 +/- 12.34 years. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of preoperative and postoperative VAPS values (p>0.05). There was a significant difference in postop IPSSs values (p:0.001). It was higher in the hydration group than tamsulosin/solifenacin and mirabegron groups. Postoperative IPSS value of the hydration group was 21.78 +/- 2.54 while the tamsulosin/solifenacin and mirabegron groups were 15.6 +/- 4.37 and 13.65 +/- 4.97, respectively. The use of mirabegron and tamsulosin/solifenacin combination alleviates the LUTSs related with DJ stent. There was also a significant difference between groups in terms of postoperative OAB-q values (p:0.001). Postoperative OAB-q values in the tamsulosin/solifenacin group were significantly higher than the mirabegron group. Postoperative OAB-q value of the hydration group was 29.95 +/- 5.21, while the tamsulosin/solifenacin and mirabegron groups were 23.68 +/- 4.07 and 18.15 +/- 4.1, respectively. Our results also showed that, as a beta-3 adrenergic receptor agonist, mirabegron can improve the OAB-q scores. CONCLUSION: Tamsulosin and solifenacin combination is a significantly good treatment option for reducing CUTS associated with DJ stents. Mirabegron single therapy showed good results in treating LUTS and better results in treating OAB symptoms related with DJ stents than other therapies.