Ureteral Stent Placement - PreOp® Patient Education

This video will help you to understand what a ureteral stent is, what to expect after it is placed and what you can do to help your recovery.

First let us review some information about your body and why a stent may be needed.  The normal     human body has 2 kidneys that are in the middle of the back under the lowest ribs.  Kidneys filter and clean blood to make urine.  Ureters (say your-it-ters) drain the kidneys to the bladder. 

A ureteral stent is a thin, straw-like tube, that is put in a ureter to help drain urine from the kidney to the bladder.  A curl at each end of the stent holds it in place.

Stents are most commonly used to treat blockages,  especially from kidney stones.  If a kidney does not drain it can become damaged.  Stents are also placed after surgery involving the ureter to allow it to heal.

A stent may be needed for weeks, even months, depending on why it was placed.  Ask your Urologist what the plan is for your stent.

Sometimes a string is attached to the end of the stent to make it easier to remove.  If you can feel a string, leave it alone, do not pull it.  If the stent is accidentally pulled out too soon or pulled out of position, you may need another procedure to put a new stent in.

After a stent is placed you will see red color from blood in your urine, even tiny clumps.

You will have some pain in your side and back called flank pain.  Some patients have more pain than others.  This pain is mostly caused by spasms or cramping of the ureter and bladder .  It can be worse when you try to urinate. 

Most patients also have bladder irritation from the stent.  This can be urinary frequency, needing to urinate often and urinary urgency, or feeling strongly that you “have to go”.

 You will be given a prescription for narcotic pain medicine for the first 1-2 days. These medications are not as helpful with stent pain as we would like them to be and they can cause nausea and constipation. 

You may be prescribed a type of medication called an  anticholinergic  or an alpha-blocker.  These medications work to lessen the cramps and spasms and can be helpful with this type of pain.  - more: