Healthcare Innovation: Apollo Hospitals Pioneers India’s First Size-Adjustable Urological Stent Prototypes

India’s first reported EXIME temporary prostatic stent procedures provide a minimally invasive, catheter-free option for carefully selected patients unable to undergo immediate prostate surgery

Bengaluru, September 17, 2026: Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, Bengaluru, has introduced EXIME Temporary Prostatic Urethral Stent technology, performing the procedures on five medically complex patients who required relief from urinary obstruction but could not undergo immediate definitive prostate surgery.

Led by Dr. T. Manohar, Innovator and Clinical Director, Apollo Prostate Institute, Renal Sciences & Kidney Transplantation, Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, the procedures were performed under local anaesthesia with mild sedation and took approximately 10 minutes each. All five patients were able to pass urine immediately following the procedure, with nil post-void residual urine reported. The patients were discharged as part of a day-care protocol, with no complications reported during the three-week follow-up period.

The EXIME temporary prostatic stent is designed to maintain the patency of the prostatic urinary passage, allowing patients to void while they await definitive treatment or when surgery needs to be temporarily deferred. The stent can remain in place for up to one year, potentially providing a window to stabilise a patient’s medical condition, complete necessary treatment or plan definitive prostate intervention.

Addressing a critical gap in high-risk patients-

The five patients treated at Apollo Hospitals had varied and complex medical conditions that made immediate prostate surgery challenging.

One patient, a 73-year-old with significant cardiac risk, had recurrent urinary retention, urinary infections and a previous episode of severe urosepsis. He required uninterrupted anticoagulation and had recently recovered from cardiac arrest.

Another, a 70-year-old patient with recurrent/metastatic urothelial cancer, was receiving palliative treatment and was considered unsuitable for definitive prostate surgery.

Two patients, aged 66 and 83, developed severe urinary symptoms, retention and obstructive uropathy following PTCA. Their prostate procedures had to be deferred while they remained on dual antiplatelet therapy for at least three months.

The fifth patient, aged 90, had multiple comorbidities and bladder dysfunction and had been dependent on long-term catheterisation. Temporary stenting was considered as a potential catheter-sparing approach.

Dr. T. Manohar said, “In medically vulnerable patients, the challenge is to relieve urinary obstruction without exposing them to additional procedural risk. A temporary prostatic stent can provide a window during which the patient can pass urine while the underlying medical condition is stabilised and definitive treatment is planned.”

He added, “We see this as a Least Invasive Surgical Treatment, or LIST, option for carefully selected patients with BPH, particularly when medication has significant side effects and conventional surgery needs to be delayed or may not be appropriate. It is important to emphasise that this technology is not a replacement for definitive procedures in patients who are fit for surgery.”

A temporary bridge, not a replacement for definitive treatment

For patients who are medically fit, established procedures such as HoLEP and TURP continue to remain definitive treatment options for appropriate cases. The potential role of temporary prostatic stenting is in a specific group of patients where surgery may have to be postponed because of cardiac conditions, ongoing blood-thinning therapy, cancer treatment, advanced age or other significant medical risks.

Uday Davda, Vice President, Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, said, “For patients whose medical conditions make immediate surgery unsuitable, having additional treatment options can help address an important gap in care. The introduction of EXIME reflects Apollo Hospitals’ commitment to clinical innovation and to exploring solutions for patients with complex medical needs. Careful patient selection, informed decision-making and appropriate follow-up remain central to the use of any emerging technology.”

Exploring next-generation temporary stent solutions

Building on this initial experience, the Apollo Hospitals team is also exploring potential Indian modifications to temporary prostatic stent technology, including size-adjustable designs that could potentially provide greater customisation based on individual patient requirements.

The five procedures mark an early clinical experience in using temporary prostatic stenting for medically complex patients with urinary obstruction. For appropriately selected patients, the approach may offer a temporary alternative to repeated urinary retention episodes or prolonged catheter dependence while definitive treatment is being planned.