What is ureteral stent placement?

A ureteral (say "you-REE-ter-ul") stent is a thin, hollow tube. It is placed in the ureter to help urine pass from the kidney into the bladder. Ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

This procedure is done when something is blocking the ureter. The blockage may be caused by problems such as a kidney stone, a tumor, or an infection. The stent keeps the ureter open. After the stent is placed, urine should flow better from your kidneys to your bladder.

You will get medicine to make you sleep and to prevent pain during the procedure. The doctor will place the stent by guiding it up the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. Then the doctor will pass the stent through the bladder and ureter into the kidney. The doctor will place one end of the stent in the kidney and the other end in the bladder.

The stent may be left in place for several days. Or you may have it in place for several months. While the stent is in place, you may have to urinate more often. You may feel a sudden need to urinate. Or you may feel like you can't completely empty your bladder.

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay.
• Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
• Most people are able to return to work the day after the procedure. If your work requires intense activity, you may feel pain in your kidney area or get tired easily. If this happens, you may need to do less strenuous activities while the stent is in.
• Ask your doctor when it is okay for you to have sex.

Diet

• You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
• Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also get instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

Procedures can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your procedure.

Preparing for the procedure

• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
• Understand exactly what procedure is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your procedure. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your procedure. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the procedure and how soon to do it.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

After the placement, you may have a small amount of blood in your urine for 1 to 3 days. While the stent is in place, you may have to urinate more often, feel a sudden need to urinate, or feel like you can't completely empty your bladder.

You may feel some pain when you urinate or do strenuous activity. You also may notice a small amount of blood in your urine after strenuous activities. These side effects usually don't prevent people from doing their normal daily activities.

You may have a thin string coming out of your urethra. This string is attached to the stent. Try not to pull on the string. It will be used to pull out the stent when you no longer need it.

A ureteral (say "you-REE-ter-ul") stent is a thin, hollow tube that is placed in the ureter to help urine pass from the kidney into the bladder. Ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

You may have a small amount of blood in your urine for 1 to 3 days after the procedure.

While the stent is in place, you may have to urinate more often, feel a sudden need to urinate, or feel like you can't completely empty your bladder. You may feel some pain when you urinate or do strenuous activity. You also may notice a small amount of blood in your urine after strenuous activities. These side effects usually don't prevent people from doing their normal daily activities.

You may have a thin string coming out of your urethra. Your urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder to outside your body. This string is attached to the stent. Try not to pull on the string. It will be used to pull out the stent when you no longer need it.

After the procedure, urine may flow better from your kidneys to your bladder. A ureteral stent may be left in place for several days or for as long as several months. Your doctor will take it out when you no longer need it. Or, in some cases, it may be taken out at home.

• Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your procedure may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of the procedure, take them with only a sip of water.
• Take a bath or shower before you come in for your procedure. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
• Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.

At the hospital or surgery center

• Bring a picture ID.
• You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. You will be asleep during the procedure.
• The procedure will take about 30 to 60 minutes.

The stent will be placed during a procedure in an operating room. You will get medicine to prevent pain during the procedure. You may also get medicine to make you sleep. You will probably be able to go home the same day, but you might need to stay overnight.

The doctor will place the stent by guiding it up the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. Then the doctor will pass the stent through the bladder and ureter into the kidney. The doctor will place one end of the stent in the kidney and the other end in the bladder.