What is a stent?
Ureteral stents are soft, hollow, plastic tubes placed temporarily into the ureter to allow drainage around a stone or to speed healing after a stone surgery
When are they needed?
Stents are used for various reasons in patients with kidney stones. They may be placed in patients to help reduce pain from a stone, when infection is present to allow drainage, or when a stone is preventing a kidney from working adequately. Stents are also commonly placed after surgeries for stones, as in ureteroscopy, to allow healing and prevent swelling of the ureter.
How is a stent placed?
Stents are placed during surgery by sliding them over a soft “guidewire” which is placed up the ureter, which is the tube draining the kidney. See a video below of a stent being placed.
How is a stent removed?
Stents can be removed in two different ways. Sometimes, a string is left attached to the end of the stent. This string is allowed to come out of the patient’s urethra, the tube where he or she urinates. The string can be used to pull on the stent and remove it. In cases where a string is not left attached, a small camera called a cystoscope is inserted into the patient’s urethra after numbing medication has usually been administered. The cystoscope is then advanced into the bladder and the stent is grasped with an instrument and removed. See our post on stent removal for a video and more details.
How long can a stent stay in?
In general, most stents should only remain in for no longer than 3 or so months. If a stent is left in too long, it can form stones directly on it, making removal difficult.
What are the symptoms of having a stent?
While some patients with stents have minimal discomfort related to them, other patients will report symptoms that can range from being annoying to being severe enough that the stent has to be removed. These symptoms can include:
- Sensation of needing to urinate
- Seeing blood in the urine
- Bladder spasms
- Burning sensation during urination
- Pain in the back during urination or when moving
- Pain in the bladder
Is there anything that can help reduce the discomfort of a stent?
Different medications may be given to help reduce the discomfort of a stent. The most effective appears to be those from the alpha blocker class of medications including tamsulosin (Flomax) and Alfuzosin (Uroxatral). Other types of medications commonly given for stent discomfort, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan) or phenazopyridine (Pyridium), do not appear to be successful at reducing stent related discomfort in placebo controlled studies. Traditional pain medications are also less successful at reducing stent discomfort.
Hasn’t anyone come up with a better stent?
Research into improving stent designs will hopefully reduce the discomfort associated with them. Innovative stent designs currently being tested include stents embedded with medications to reduce discomfort and stents that dissolve by themselves.
Hi. I had a stent put in about 10 days ago for a stone on my right kidney which was about 3mm in diameter. My question: could laser not have sorted this out? 5 days of blood in my urine and urinating every 45minutes does not help. Bladder spasms. Will this change once the stone and stent is removed? What’s the best after care?
Well I could feel the tip of the stent I got in a warm/ hot bath and pulled it out and there were stones on the beginning of it. It feels so much better though. There is some bleeding and it still hurts when I pee but over all I am feeling a lot better.
I have had a stent in for 5 months now. I have a 14 mm kidney stone in my left kidney and instead of shocking the stones he just put a stent in me. Went back a few weeks later to get it removed and he wouldn’t remove it due to the fact that the stone was still there and I don’t have insurance. I have been to 3 different hospitals and they won’t take the stent out or shock the stone. I have been dealing with reoccurring UTIs. I am in pain everyday. I have thought about pulling it out myself but it has been in for so long I don’t know if there are any stones forming on it.. I don’t know what to do anymore. This weekend I am going to the hospital where they put it in at and I hope they take it out and shock the stone but I have doubts.. Any advice would be appreciated.
If it were me I would go to the hospital emergency room at the hospital Where they put it in and tell them you want it removed and you want pain meds and an antibiotic to kill the infection and you want it asap or seriously I have a business card of a very good malpractice attorney so we can do this the easy way or it will still come out after we collect a huge settlement from you and I’m not playing and I will call the local news channels so they can let everyone know how you treat people. And if they don’t or laugh at you go get that lawyer cause those ambulance chasers love to sue hospitals and doctors. The VA treated me like that and I called my congressman and he had his staff contact the hospital asking why they were not treating me. They got on it quick. Go give them hell Nikki, by law they have to give you basic treatment.
I am looking at surgery in two weeks. Can someone tell me if there is any difference in the stents used that are tethered versus the ones used that are not?
If there is no difference how is the decision made on which to use?
Thank you
Eric
i just had a stent put in me today the doc could not get at it of course so iam confused by the stent will this help me for next time i go and see him will it be easier to get out and if not then what happens
How long does the burning sensation while urinating last?
Additionally, will I constantly be able to feel that the stent is there? Or will I get used to it?
Good luck. I had a stent for almost 4 weeks. The stent was more painful in some ways than the kidney stone. The stone would produce pain about every 4 days then go away for 3 to 4 days. The stent made peeing very painful always. It burned from the bladder up to the kidney. Pain meds did very little. I lost 12 lbs in two weeks before the blasting of the stone. I was hoping the Dr. would remove the stent during the blasting(in the hospital). The stent was removed in the Drs. office. Way beyond inhumane. The worse medical experience that I have every had. No pain meds. Drs said I was not a good candidate for stents in the future. Now 2 weeks after the stent removal things are getting a lot better. Hope things go better for you.
I had double mastectomy June. Saw lots of blood in urine in July/August so went in for surgery after bleeding didn’t stop, just to look they said and I came out with a stent. I only had for a week. However, they took it out and I still can’t walk straight up. I can’t sleep. I hate peeing. Also, you are so correct about that procedure being Inhumane. They couldn’t find my stent for 20 minutes. As they filled my bladder with fluids I wanted to scream.
If I were you I would get it out as soon as you can!! Mine has been in for a while and I am in constant pain.
Just had a stent put in this morning at 11 am August 12 2016. It’s 9:37pm central time and I have only mild discomfort at times. Sometimes I forget it’s there. Urinating was not so bad. It really burned the first few times because of blood but now that most blood is out burning is no longer an issue. Hope this helps!
Thank you all so much or you advice, and words of wisdom on here. I have been going through quite a time and am very nervous about what is still yet to come. I am a 34 year old Mom of 3 girls.
In May I went into the ER with a stomach bug. No big deal. An abdominal CT showed at that time, a mass on my left kidney.
3cm mass which was renal cell carcinoma. A Partial Nephrectomy and 5 weeks later… my kidney is still leaking into my abdomen, which has required a Jackson-Pratt drain since surgery.
I went for my weekly appointment today with no decrease in drain output in the last week.. about 200ml a day… So today I drove home with a foley catheter. So the FC in my bladder and a JP in my side.
I didn’t think I had a stent but today the Dr, said I do…. I was sure he said he didn’t do one in the hospital… something to ask him about .. I didn’t think of it till after the appointment though.. I am confused though and I feel like I am always mishearing…
Had a stent inserted in Thursday and since then I have had increased urgency to per, extreme burning when peeing and also when not peeing! Pain in my kidney and back L. Would anyone offer any advice
You are not alone In this situation, I’m feeling exactly the same way right now. In my pain scale I rate the pain 5/10 I. My left flank. I also had an urge to always go to the bathroom and poop. Is there someone also feel the same way too like us? I find strength also in you guys, because you keep coming strong inspire of this situation.
some people have no.issues with stents but I did. I am on day 6. I still have blood, which they say will stay till it’s removed. I have earned in my back and the side the stent was put on. My pee starts out fine but near the end of the flow it’s like my bladder has a painful Charlie horse. it continues for a minute or so after I have finished peeing
I’ve had thjs stent in for about 8 wks. for the last 3-4 wks. the pain urethra,back have been getting worse I’m having it removed on Monday. I hope I never ever have to go through this again. Glad to have read the different experiences with other people.
Just want to ask, if you happened to feel this way even with tamsulosin.tnx
I had surgery 3 days ago to remove a 12m stone, and a stent left in, my problem is I can’t control my bladder, once I feel the urge to urinate I just empty my bladder all over myself, clothes and bed and all. Will this stop? Is the stent doing this or am I going to remain incontinent? I have a 2 hr. drive to see the doctor to remove the stent and I know I can’t make it, with out peeing all over my self, clothes and so forth. What can I do?
I don’t know if it’s legal in your country, but can you phone,text email a nurse in a nearby hospital, to place a Foley catheter on you. I hope is helps.
I had eswl and a stent put in about 5 years ago.stent removal was okay but I have had bad .bladder control since then if I don’t go when I feel it my bladder will drain and will not stop till it is empty.I don’t know if anybody else has had this problem but I am not going back to the doctor to get it fixed so I guess that I just will have to deal with it. just remember if you get a stent put in I guess this is a possible side effect for the rest of your life.
I just had a stone removed from my right kidney size 6 on Tuesday August the 2nd. The pain from the stent when I move is not to bad like a slight tug inside buts hen I go urinate the pain is worse than when the stone was in there I almost have to double over on toilet tousle it. Calling doctors office tomorrow cause almost out of pain medication cause of pain. I can’t wait to pull this thing out
I’ve had lithotripsy 7 times over 12years l was clear of stones then I started to get severe flank pain followed by 2 kidney infections larst October after ct scan doctor said I’ve got 13 more on 28 July I had laser stone fragmentation and basget removal with JJ stent after surgery I had to be catheterised I couldn’t pass water the stent pain is severe ime not looking forward to stent removal
I have had over 40 surgeries to remove stones over the last 10 years. Most with stents left in. The pain is terrible for me but have recently tried suppositories pain killers diclofenic and they did help for a while.
Pete –
I just had a 5mm stone removed today – they tried to do lithotripsy in Feb and that didn’t work. But what I wanted to ask you is have you had your parathyroid gland checked? I am a multiple kidney stone maker – this is the first time it’s been this big where I didn’t pass one. But my urologist referred to a ear,nose & throat Dr., who did a blood test and determined this gland which is on your thyroid gland in your neck creates calcium in your blood and so now I’m having that removed next. May want to check into this.
My first two surgeries for stones were through my back. The doctor had to make two surgeries because the stone was the size of a golf ball(his words) and it took twice to get to it and blast it. I cried every day for a week. The constipation was unbearable.
The third surgery the doctor went through my urethra. He wasn’t able to get in through my left side because my tubes were too small. So I have had stents in my bladder for the last five days. Two weeks left until the next surgery. Pain is to a minimum. But, I get bladder spasms and back spasms when I try to go to the bathroom. And it hurts to the point that it takes my breath away. I always feel like I have to go to the bathroom. And I wake up 7 to 8 times a night to go to the bathroom. I still have two more surgeries to go through. And I will promise you I never want to experience this again.
Since may 15th till 15th of july..i have had 5 stents put in me…replaced a few times due to infection and hydronephrosis. I still have a stent in me and its just so painful. I get chills at night…sometimes i wake up all drenched at night and change my clothes. I cant walk much…the stent just rubs against my bladder every time i move. I am at a point now…that death sounds better than living another day with this pain. Have called drs office..all they suggest is painkillers.
I hope you’ve already found a relief considering the time frame. Ive had 5 stents since April due to hydronephrosis also. The only relief I find is when I take a oxycodone and pyridium or phenozopyridine. The burning has began to be too much, and the back pain is awful specially at night. I go for open surgery next week, so not long for me. But I hope this helps you if you still are in need.
I am completely with you. I have been on antibiotics since October 3, 2014. I have 2 stones that are embedded in the walls of my kidney. This kidney has atrophied to 2/3 its normal size and I had so much scar tissue that urinating became nearly impossible.
I am on stent number 7 now and will have it replaced in late October. The pain is constant, 2 Tramadol for daily maintenance, 2-3 if it is hurting enough and then on those special days, Hydrocodone or Percocet when its bed time all day long.
I feel like I have a pencil in my back at all times and usually it is a dull numbing pain. But I tried to star my weed eater the other day for about 15 minutes and I was in bed the next day. This really is weak!
My friend recently had a couple of kidney stones that were very painful. You mentioned that ureteral stents are soft, hollow, plastic tubes placed temporarily into the ureter to allow drainage around a stone or to speed healing after a stone surgery. It seems that this could be something to help him heal. Do all urologist suggest this treatment?
I had surgery on July 6. The kidney stone (6 mm) was sitting right above the bladder in ureter but could not get into bladder for 2 months. I finally had the surgery to remove the stone. I told the doc if at all possible try not to use a stent. When I woke up in recovery the first thing I said to the nurse was do I have a stent! She said no stent. The doctor listened to me. However, that night I could feel the pressure on my left side that lasted for about 4 hours. It was pretty intense. Now I understand why they recommend a stent to allow healing. However, if I have to do this again I would try not get a stent but would want to get a morphine shot!
Is it possible not to have stents? What are the effects of not having a stent after a surgery?
I have a stint put. In last Wednesday, I have had stones for years, the stint comes out next Mon., I hope it doesn’t hurt, why does so much blood comes out in my urine, its been 6 days, is that normal, I wish someone could answer that. For me, thanks.
Seems to be normal but call your eurologist
You might not be staying hydrated enough, that’s definitely something to mention to your doctor though
ive had my stent 6 days. they told me my wee will look like a red wine for 2 weeks after. The blood has gone down a lot again today but it comes and goes
The normal is usually 3 days at most (that if the surgery was done properly)
Yet, I woild suggest in such cases to immediately go to ER, and IF at any point you don’t really TRUST your doctor, don’t ever hesitate to get another advise from some other doctor.
This is not a personal POV… It’s science words
Thank you so much for this information. It is not normal to bear this experience. I had surgery Friday. Today is Tusday and I am bleeding… Thank you for your advice too.
This is my second time with a stent. The other was 2 years ago, same kidney. This time I seem to have much more discomfort from it. Constant ache and heavy feeling on my left flank and the constant urge to utinate, unless I am lying down. Burning at the urinary meatus after voiding.
I had two stones blasted, 16mm on one side and 10mm in other kidney. The stents were left in for a week. After removal I’ve been having terrible spasms and a hard time urinating. Any recommendations on how long I should wait? How long does this last, it’s been 6 days.
Dear Shelley I myself just had kidney stone surgery and after the stent was removed the next day there was no pain at all I believe there is something wrong I wish you luck
I’ve been through kidney stones, surgery, stent placement, and removal. I have a stent in now after surgery on July 19th to remove a 7mm stone. First surgery on July 8th was not a success. Urologist could not reach because my urether was too narrow and placed a stent to open them up. Removal is not painful and I get to remove my own this time since it has a string attached. I am always relieved to get the stent out.
I had the cystoscopy surgery done on July 9th. I got admitted to the hospital over the weekend after going to the ER three times being in pain and not able to keep water down. I ended up severely dehydrated. They ended up doing the surgery as an emergency because my kidney started failing. I don’t remember much about my hospital stay because I slept most of the time. My biggest worry is how they are going to remove my stent. My heart does not react very well to anesthesia due to my bradycardia, but I do not want to be awake for the procedure because I will freak out. Anyone got any advice to give me about the procedure or how your appointment went in regards to getting the stent removed?
I had one pulled out yesterday and even though I’d been worried about it. It really was not a big deal, by far the least traumatic thing to happen during a four day hospital stay. The Urologist pulled on the string and out it came. It took less than a couple of seconds and didn’t hurt too much.
I pray mine comes out the same way. I’m having my stent removed in the morning and I really get sick thinking about it. My wife laughs and says be a big boy. Yea right. I’m glad I found someone who says it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Hi, I did not have a general anaesthetic for placement of my stent due to toxin concerns for my liver. Instead I received an epidural numbing me below chest level. A little strange as you can feel movement and hear discussions, but I would elect for this every time.
Removal will be with local anaesthetic, I am told much less of an ordeal. The big question is how do you feel about being conscious during the procedure? The thought freaked me out a little but the experience was just fine.
I hate that groggy “welcome back to the world” waking experience from a general.
It was so easy! No pain at all. 3 seconds!!!! Do not stress!!! I worried for nothing. You will be so happy.
Thank you for this reassurance. I’m due to have the stent removed any day so this meant a lot reading this.x
I got a stent today and the Dr told me to just remove it myself on Sunday . . . . think I’ll have a shot of Tequilla before I attempt this . . . I am a baby about pain!
It was so easy. 3 seconds. No pain. I worried for nothing!!!!
I have a ureteral stent in place now and it will stay there for three weeks. I had a huge stone lodged in the ureter and I had to be removed with a cystoscope and a stent placed because of all the swelling in the ureter. My doctor said that the stent is removed in the office. No anesthesia is required. It sounds like a non event. Probably no worse than have the doctor look around your bladder with a cystoscope. I am not concerned.
Hope all goes well.
Not a big deal deal for women. Guys is a different story. I’ve had 5 stents and removed 2 myself. It’s definitely not painless, but just giving yourself the pep talk and gaining the courage to just do it is the worst part!
My friend has them it’s been a year she can’t control her bladder and green mucus discharge
I went to the ER on June 19 for horrible intractable pain on my left side. After waiting hours to be examined, I was diagnosed with pyelomyelitis (kidney infection) caused by stones in both kidneys.
I met with a urologist a few days later who said that I have a small (5mm) stone in my left kidney, on which he is going to perform lithotripsy. In my right kidney, I have a 13mm stone which the urologist says is “too large for lithotripsy” so he’s going to put a stent in on the right while he has me under for the lithotripsy on the left.
So my question is, what is the stent going to do? I realize the purpose of the stent is to help the kidney drain and to keep the ureter from swelling. But what about the stone? Is it expected to pass down the stent into my bladder (in which case, that big of a stone CANNOT come down my urethra!!)? Is he going to break it up with a laser beforehand? He hasn’t told me what the plan is beyond placing the stent, and I’m embarrassed that I didn’t ask. Any ideas?
I forgot to ask my surgeon some key questions too and ended up in a difficult situation with a stent that needed to be in for 4 days, staying in for 6 weeks!! ( it was a booking issue, but I should have spoken up) It’s not to late to ask, screw embarrassment, write down everything you want to know and call the office. The doctor can return your call. I learned a lot about being more proactive in my care since dealing with this stone, lithotrypsy, csytoscopy, the laser and wire basket method, etc. So please, don’t be embarrassed. I wished I made my surgeon slow down for two seconds and tell me exactly what was going on. The most important thing I learned was that if I’m having a procedure that requires a stent and is not an emergency, that I insist on having both placement and removal appointments booked before going ahead. Live and learn. All the best to you.
The stent encourages better flow and reduces the risk of further infection from the larger stones which often have bacterial deposits on them, the longer the stone has been there the worse this could be.
The next step I would anticipate the insertion of a scope and the breaking up of the stone using a laser. Larger fragments can be grabbed and removed via the scope. Smaller “grains” can pass naturally afterwards
The month of June I would need to use the bathroom quite often. When I walked in bathroom and started to pull pants down I would start urinating. This would happen all the time. I also had some side and back pain that would hurt for a little while and then it would quit.I have a very,very high tolerance for pain. I rarely use pain killers. On the 27th of a June I woke up about 1:00 am with sever pain. Could not get comfortable and was up the rest of night. Husband wanted to take me to dr. but I put him off and said I could deal with it. This went on for 2 days. I just figured What ever it was it would pass. There was no bleeding or burning when urinating. I also was nauseous and started vomiting and pain was coming around in upper part of stomach. I just figured the soreness was from vomiting and Dry heaving. On the 2nd of July the pain came on again strong and after 10 hrs. of dealing with constant pain my husband called and I told him about how bad the pain was. Knowing my tolerance for pain he knew it was bad. About an hour later I heard someone coming threw the back do. He had came home from work and Made me go to hospital. They gave me a cat scan and came back and said I had a stone that was 8mm. Since we lived out of town they decide to keep me so they could control my pain and my husband knew I probably not take my pain meds. My doctor came in on the 4th of July and put a stent in. Was suppose to come out in a week but since Dr. Was knew to our area he only could schedule surgery when ever time was available. On the 19th of July 2016 they scheduled my surgery. Went in with laser then when in with a tool that had a claw on end to get stones out. He also placed a temporary stent in and told me to remove it 3 days later. First few times using bathroom was uncomfortable and to tell you the truth it felt like a tampon inside. Yes it was a little uncomfortable but really not that painfull.I was a little scare to take the stent out so I waited until my husband came home just in case I couldn’t get it out. I just got done pulling it out and did not endure any pain. It does feel a little different but really no pain. Yes kidney stones can be painfull but I did use heat and ice to help with the pain. Everyone is different so please don’t think the worse.