Patient education: Ureteral stent placement (The Basics)

What is a ureteral stent? — A ureteral stent is a small tube that helps make the ureter wider.

Normally, urine drains from the kidneys through the ureters, into the bladder, then out of the body (figure 1). Sometimes, a kidney stone or injury can block the flow of urine from the kidneys. A ureteral stent can make the ureter wide enough for a stone to pass or keep the ureter open while it heals.

For some stents, the ends of the tube are shaped like coils. The coils help hold the tube in place. One end rests in the bladder, and the other end rests in the kidney. A ureteral stent is about 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) long.

A doctor can place the stent into the ureter using a cystoscope. A cystoscope is a long, thin tube with a tiny camera on the end. The doctor places the cystoscope through the urethra and into the bladder. This procedure is called a "cystoscopy" (figure 2).

Why might I need a ureteral stent? — The doctor might want to put in a ureteral stent if:

●You have something like a stone or tumor that is blocking urine from flowing out of your kidney.

●Your ureters have been injured, or you had surgery on your ureters.

●You will have certain other treatments for kidney stones.

You might need to have a stent in place for a few days or a few weeks. If the stent is needed for a longer time, it might need to be replaced. The doctor will tell you how long your stent needs to be in place.

How do I prepare for ureteral stent placement? — The doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to do anything special to prepare.

Before your procedure, your doctor will do an exam. They also might send you to get:

●Urine tests

●X-rays, ultrasound, or CT scan (imaging tests that create pictures of the inside of the body)

Your doctor will also ask you about your "health history." This involves asking you questions about any health problems you have or had in the past, past surgeries, and any medicines you take. Tell them about:

●Any medicines you are taking – This includes any prescription or "over-the-counter" medicines you use, plus any herbal supplements you take. It helps to write down and bring a list of any medicines you take, or bring a bag with all of your medicines with you.

●Any allergies you have

●Any bleeding problems you have – Certain medicines, including some herbs and supplements, can increase the risk of bleeding. Some health conditions also increase this risk.

You will also get information about:

●Fasting – This means not eating or drinking anything for a period of time. Whether you need to fast, and for how long, depends on the kind of anesthesia you will have.

●Emptying your bladder – You will empty your bladder about an hour before the procedure. Your doctor might send this urine sample for testing.

●What help you will need when you go home – For example, you might need to have someone else bring you home or stay with you for some time while you recover.

Ask the doctor or nurse if you have questions or if there is anything you do not understand.

What happens during ureteral stent placement? — Usually, the doctor will have you come to an operating room to have a ureteral stent placed. When it is time for the procedure:

●You will get an "IV," which is a thin tube that goes into a vein. This can be used to give you fluids and medicines.

●The doctors and nurses will monitor your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate during the procedure.

●You will lie on your back on an exam table. You will place your feet in special foot holders that keep your legs apart and bent.

●The doctor will clean your genitals with a special soap to help prevent an infection.

●The doctor will put numbing medicines inside of your urethra. Sometimes, you might get anesthesia and feel sleepy and relaxed.

●The doctor will put a cystoscope into your urethra. They will put water into your bladder through the tube. This will fill and expand your bladder. You might feel bloated or like you need to urinate.

●The doctor will find the opening of your ureter and place a guidewire through it and into your kidney. Then, they will inject dye so they can see how urine flows from your kidney into your bladder.

●The doctor will thread the stent over the guidewire and into the correct place (figure 3).

●The doctor will remove the guidewire and cystoscope, and the stent will stay in your ureter.

●The procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes.

What happens after ureteral stent placement? — After your procedure, you might feel numb for 1 to 3 hours. If you've had sedation, you might be asked to remain in a recovery area until the effects of the medicines wear off.

After a ureteral stent is placed, it is normal to have:

●Pain in your back, side, or bladder, or a burning feeling when you urinate

●The need to urinate often

●The need to urinate suddenly

●Blood in your urine

These symptoms should go away when the stent is removed. The doctor can give you medicines to help with the symptoms if they bother you.

You might have a string from the stent outside of your body. If so, do not pull on it or the stent can come out (figure 3).

What are the risks of having a ureteral stent? — Your doctor will talk to you about all of the possible risks and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●Bleeding

●Infection

●Injury to your kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra

●Pain while the stent is in place

●Blockage in your ureter

●The stent moving out of place

●Crusts developing around the stent

●Kidney stones

More on this topic

Patient education: Ureteral stent placement – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Ureteral stent removal (The Basics)
Patient education: Ureteroscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Cystoscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stones in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stones in children (The Basics)

Patient education: Kidney stones in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stones in children (Beyond the Basics)