Clare Whittaker, Clinical Nurse Specialist

Discover her experience with Isiris α

Clare Whittaker is a clinical nurse specialist for renal transplantation working at Barts Health (United Kingdom). She has been a nurse for more than twenty years and was the first nurse in UK to remove stents in renal transplant patients using the Isiris α stent removal device.

It (Isiris α) has been a revolution in our practice and I would certainly recommend it to other users in other hospitals.

The use of Isiris α has definitely improved the quality of care for the patients.

This (Isiris α) has certainly […] increased the number of transplant stent removals that can take place in any given morning.

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What is the role of a clinical nurse specialist?

“My main role as a clinical nurse specialist for renal transplantation is to look after patients who have had renal transplants, looking after all aspects of their care.”

Why is a stent placed into a patient after kidney stone surgery/kidney transplant?

“A stent is placed for a renal transplant patient at the time of their transplant operation. The stent holds the ureter open to allow free drainage of urine from the kidney into the bladder.”

What are the impacts of Isiris α on the stent removal procedure and the patient pathway?

“Patients previously would have had to have come in to the main theatre, be admitted and have the removal in the main theatre. This would have been an all day procedure from admission to discharge.
With the introduction of Isiris α, we have been able to combine their clinic visit with the removal of the stent and this has reduced the amount of time spent at the hospital from a whole day down to only a matter of possibly an hour, or an hour and a half at the most.
I believe that the use of Isiris α has definitely improved the quality of care for the patients. The patients arrive in the department in the usual place where they would come for their normal clinic visits. We can then remove the stent in a room that they are used to. It is not frightening, it is not intimidating, the stent is removed and then the patients can go home and get on with their normal lives.
They have not had to spend a whole day waiting for main theatres, waiting for a slot to become available for their stent to be removed.”

How did you learn about the Isiris Stent Removal System?

“I learned about Isiris α through some of my work colleagues. They had previously been removing stents in the main theatres following transplantation and they identified this device as being something that we could use in the outpatient setting to remove stents in a more relaxed environment.”

What advice do you give to patients coming in for a stent removal?

“Patients are advised when they come for stent removal really just to relax as much as they possibly can. This will make it more comfortable for them and make it easier for me as the operative. The removal of a stent should not be a painful experience for a patient.
Mostly, patients feel embarrassed by the procedure but if the patient relaxes, the procedure itself should not be painful while it may have a small element of discomfort.”

Could you sum up the organisational benefits of Isiris α?

“I really feel that the introduction of the Isiris α has been fantastic. It has been a revolution in our practice really and I would certainly recommend it to other users and in other hospitals.
It has changed the way that we manage our patients. It has changed the way the patients perceive the removal of the stents as well and certainly improved the practice all around. The introduction of the Isiris α stent removal device has brought more flexibility for us because we do not have to take patients to theatre. This stent can be removed wherever it is required.
So we have a stent removal list each week within our outpatient setting but also it allows me to be able to attend the ward and remove stents for patients who are impatient, who cannot make it to the outpatient setting.”

What are the benefits of using the single use DJ stent removal solution?

“Because the Isiris α stent removal equipment is one use only, it is disposable. This means that more procedures can take place. So, rather than having to wait for materials to be autoclaved and go through the sterilisation process, we can just move from one stent removal to the next.
This has certainly improved the number and increased the number of transplant stent removals that can take place in any given morning.”

Do you feel that your job has evolved with the introduction of this Isiris α?

“Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, I have got the right support around me, and this combined with having the correct training and support through that training, has enabled me to go on to an independent practice in removing stents from renal transplant patients.
My role has certainly evolved with the availability of the stent removal device and it allows me now to provide a much more holistic balance of care to my patients being able to look after patients through their whole transplant journey.”

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