Boston Scientific has created a new application that will allow urologists to better keep track of ureteral stents that are implanted in patients who have kidney stones.

A ureteral stent is a hollow tube that maintains patency until healing can take place or an obstruction is relieved. It allows urine to flow from the kidney to the bladder.

Currently, implanted stents are sometimes forgotten or left in for too long – 13 out of 100 according to the company. The ability to easily document and monitor the stents is very important because if left in for too long, what’s called stent encrustation can occur, which increases the risk of infection in patients.

Urologists and other staff can use the HIPAA-compliant Ureteral Stent Tracker app on smartphones, tablets or computers to document when a stent is put in place and schedule automated reminders for when it should be removed. According to Boston Scientific, this will reduce risks of stents being forgotten from 13 percent to just 1 percent.

According to the company, this app isn’t just beneficial for patients – it also has legal risk benefits. They report that 6 percent of the New York Endourology lawsuits were for retained stent, and 5 percent of UK Urology lawsuits that found for the plaintiff were for retained stents.

Photo: Screenshot via Boston Scientific