Home removal of Firlit Kluge stents and hypospadias dressing after distal hypospadias repair in day surgical unit: A single centre experience

Introduction: In this study, we present our single-centre experience using the Firlit Kluge (FK) stent with Duoderm and Tegaderm dressings removed at home on day 6 post-procedure for patients with distal hypospadias. Caregivers were provided with an information leaflet containing instructions for analgesia. This approach eliminates the need for hospital readmission for stent and dressing removal, streamlining the postoperative process for both patients and caregivers, while also reducing the workload of nursing staff. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical notes of all patients who underwent surgical correction of distal hypospadias using FK stent with Duoderm and Tegaderm dressings removed at home by caregivers between September 2022 and September 2024. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon. We analysed patient age, type of procedure, hospital stay, early postoperative complications, issues with home stent and dressing removal, and 30-day readmissions. Results: A total of 37 male patients were included; median age was 25 months (range 18–39 months). 35 (94.6 %) patients underwent Mathieu repair and 2 (5.4 %) underwent Snodgrass repair. Three patients (8.1 %) required a ward review before day 6 post-op due to stent dislodgement; no reinsertion of the catheter was required, and the dressing was not redone. All patients urinated without problems. 35 patients were treated as day cases, and only 2 patients stayed overnight, both due to late procedure completion. No urethrocutaneous fistula was observed. Conclusion: The use of an FK stent with Duoderm and Tegaderm dressings, safely removed at home by caregivers, appears feasible and effective in paediatric hypospadias repair. Caregivers reported no difficulties and children tolerated the procedure well. This practice reduces hospital readmissions, simplifies postoperative care, and may improve the overall patient and caregiver experience. Further studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to confirm these findings.