Aussie device to reshape kidney procedure

Barwon Health has become the first hospital to trial a new Australian designed, developed and manufactured medical device that enables kidney stents to be inserted directly in the Emergency Department (ED) under local anaesthetic. The approach significantly reduces wait times for patients experiencing severe kidney stone pain and decreases the need for overnight hospital admission.

The initial procedure was undertaken at University Hospital Geelong, where a patient presenting with acute renal colic received a ureteric stent shortly after arrival in the ED.

“I had the exact same thing happen about eight months ago and ended up needing surgery and an overnight stay in hospital after the kidney stone blocked my kidney,” said Geelong resident Jessica Stevenson. “This time it was completely different. I didn’t need a general anaesthetic, I didn’t have to wait for surgery and the procedure was done within minutes. I was able to go home about an hour later and avoid being away from my young daughter overnight.”

Under traditional care pathways, patients requiring urgent ureteric stent insertion typically wait for operating theatre availability and undergo the procedure under general anaesthetic. This process can extend over many hours and frequently results in hospital admission.

The device underpinning the trial was developed by Australian medtech company Akeeko Medical, co-founded by practising urologist Associate Professor Joseph Ischia.

“Renal colic is widely recognised as one of the most severe forms of pain people experience,” said Associate Professor Richard Grills, Director of Urology at Barwon Health. “Being able to relieve that obstruction quickly in the Emergency Department, without the need for theatre or general anaesthetic, has the potential to significantly improve the experience for patients.”

Barwon Health performs around 170 ureteric stent procedures annually. Clinicians involved in the trial estimate the new ED-based approach could reduce hospital admissions for many suitable patients, generate savings of around ~$3,000 per procedure, and simultaneously free up operating theatre capacity and inpatient beds.

The initiative positions Barwon Health as the first dedicated trial site under the Authorised Prescriber scheme, which is designed to generate clinical experience and real-world evidence to support ongoing device development. The device is not currently listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

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