All about ureteral stents

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

Photograph of a ureteral stent
Photo of a ureteral stent next to a pen.

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.

Illustration of a ureteral stent.

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.

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Jessica

I’ve been misdiagnosed since January, 2015. Finally found that I had kidney stones in March and I’ve had my two procedures to get them out. I’ve had a stent placement for a month and its just now hurting really bad. Back pain, blood in urine, and flank pain. I feel it’s not bormal. But who knows. I also don’t think ive passed all the pieces of the stone, but they didn’t tell me to strain my urine either?

sue

I had a stone removed and tomorrow I shall be having my stent removed. I have felt like I’m passing glass pains in my back and when I need to go I have to go. I got a kidney infection a couple of days after my operation. ..can’t wait for tomorrow.

Linda

I had surgery several weeks ago for left kidney stone. I never felt so much pain, but it was taken out while.

Now right kidney enlarged, second surgery 2 days ago but no stones. Stent until Tuesday, the pain in flank is terrible. Can’t wait to have this removed. I thank God that there was just a problem with right ureters…. Hope you are all recovering!

Linda

Yesterday my stent was removed, I thought I would feel relieved. After a few hours I experienced intense pain… Bladder spasms? Then severe vomiting. I called md for pain meds. I am one of those who have allergies to aspirin and can’t take oxycodin. Suffice it to say I suffered on my knees until the wee hours. I did call md on call all he said was to take over the counter Tylenol or go to emergency room for pain management. So here I am at 4am with a heating pad and self massaging the pain. It subsides slowly. All I can say is that having a stent removed is not without its own pain, at least for some. MDs should provide more information and guidance and pain management prior to removal. Telling a patient that they might experience cramps is not enough!
L

Melissa

Hello all its 2:42am in Miami and im in alot of pain. I had a a stone removed today and a stent put in for a few days. The pain is terrible i am being given 4ml of Morphine and my first dose did nothing zero nada! Had to wait an arrogating 4 hrs to get another dose that now 2 1/2 hours later has worn away!! Kidney pain was bad but controllable with meds im so scared now to go home. How will i control my pain? Also had a string left outside my private area, not sure what the removal plan may be but im hoping im taken back to the OR knocked out and then have it removed. How has your stent been removed?

In Pain and Deception -Melissa

Linda

Melissa see my response above .. Ask for pain mgmt
I hope you are doing well

Patricia

This is my 1st stent and I now I know about the urge to pee a lot and discomfort. Is sex out of the question while the stent is in?

ramon

my ct stonogram showed 1.2 cm at distal left ureter in early Feb 2015. Second shot after 2 weeks of medication showed shrinking the stone to 1.0cm and a smaller 4.1mm was also seen together with the previously observed lithiasis. I did not take chances inspite of its early detection and tolerable uncomfortablities, I underwent MIS lithotripsy with stent installation last April 1, 2015. So far I am now working with some slight uncomfotabilities when I pee..
So far so good…..
Thank you LORD….

rendi

Yesterday was a week that my Stent was pit on. This morning I woke up in a small pool of blood. My period is not due for another week and a half. Everything you all have mentioned is what I am going through as well. I’m trying to get a hold of the doctor to see if the blood is normal.

Had stint placed in 3/31/15 after stone was removed 1 inch from my bladder that would not move. A lot of pain and burning and straining to pee. Aggravation is awful and can’t wait to get this fella out of my body.

lucas

hi good luck with having your stent removed i aalso have one and can not wait for it to be taken out the back ache,feeling sick,lack of appetite and constant stinging and feeling i need to go is driving me crazy,i admit kidney pain was bad i know i needed it but i will be so glad when its been removed

vivek

Hi, I had my 1.8 cm stone removed thru laser. It was undetected and I never had pains it came out in my regular health check up in sonograph. Its been a week now and surgeon has put a stent in my urinary tract as he said it will prevent the urinary tract from suddenly collapsing as it was carrying stone weight. I was bleeding urine till some time bit now its normal,except some discomfort in back while peeing. It will be removed in 6 weeks and hope I never get a stone again.

amanda

Ok i need help i have a stone stuck and a stent in place for about a month and today ny pain is extreme and my stomach is swollen its even causing pain to put pressure or sit on my pelvic area is this normal

Andrew

I don’t know whether it is normal or not, but I have the same thing. Coupled with pain on urination, all around my back and bladder area but (I am a man) find it reduced if I stand and urinate, or if I am sitting to lean backwards. Don’t know why.

I had 3 stones removed 3 days ago.

I have the type pf stent with the string showing and am to remove it Friday morning. Not looking forward to that I can tell you.

Good luck and if the pain is bad call your surgeon. Mine is manageable with OxyCodone and Ibuprofen.

James

I’ve got a stent in me right now. It sucks. Better than stones though and it’s only for a week but GOD DAMN!

Annie

I have had 4 stents in 15 months??? Because of kidney stones & blockages.
Am now refusing, once this one comes out next Tuesday, to have another put in. Do anything to me but no more stents.
I feel like I am so raw down in my urethra area, walking is a struggle. I haven’t worked for 5 months, can’t play golf, can’t even go grocery shopping comfortably, let alone sit.??? . I CAN’T LEAVE A TOILET FOR MORE THAN 10-15 minutes. My whole life has gone on hold, even my personality has changed I reckon. More apprehensive than normal. My husband is over it all???
I pass blood, nearly vomit every time I pee. Even though I drink heaps, I pee small amounts???
I look forward to this all being over.
I am sorry there is so many of us out there,I must admit I don’t feel so alone now, I thought I was being a neurotic about the pain I’m in??!!

charlene

Omg. .reading all this is scary. .I have a kidney stone on my right since Jan 22..that’s the date I found out I had a kidney stone. Just two days after my birthday! !. A recent appt with my urologist wasnt good because not only was the stone not moving but i have more stones on my left. .
Anyway, I’m finally having surgery to remove the stone on my right, this Wednesday, April 1st. They will be leaving a stent in there afterwards. ..and from reading these comments, it’s like no relieve. Omg. ..

Stone Maker

No need to worry. I have had 38 stones and 6 surgeries. Last one was April 2nd 2015. Having my Stent removed tomorrow

Dave Button

I had a kidney stone again for the third time in 15 years. The stent I currently have in is getting worse by the day, I pass blood with urine all the time and have passed some clots too. I am a 45 year old man so not a kid, I tried weed as a pain killer when I had the stone so I would reccomend this to anyone suffering with stones but not as a habit

Chris

Yeah im 45 and I’ve passed a couple stones in my time. It was 8 hrs in the fetal positions a then it was gone. This time I had a side pain that kept me in bed.I was diagnosed with a 17 mm kidney stone. So far hey installed the stent tno avoid obstruction its been a horrible experience. I got infection for 7 days begged to die.that was fixed up by a couple days of fluids and antibiotics in the e.r.now I need to wait a month before the guy is available to break up the stone.its been a painful , burning hell so everyone good luck

My boyfriend just had his stent removed yesterday and he still bleeding I want to know why and how long?

lucas

hi i think your boy freind will still have blood and stinging for a few days as you have to bear in mind tube that goes up must cut the inside and then when you pee you can imagine the stinging i suggest you get b/f to drink loads of water as i find the more you drink the less blood and stinging

kathie

I have had a 3-4 mm stone that was diagnosed 12/28/14.it is still there 🙁 i had a stent but needed it removed as it was rubbing my bladder .
So back to where i was 3 months ago !! The kidney stone is still stuck at the junction of kidney and ureter. WHAT DO I DO ???? I KNOW THESE ARE NOT GOOD TO HAVE ?????

Georgia

I just had this same problem with a stone 7mm stuck in ny ureter down by my bladder. They went get it out and it was jammed so tight they drilled a hole in it to get it out. It was causing my kidney to back up. Now I have stent and it hurts. Feels like the string is in my vaginal area. uou need to have this stone removed asap!

renee

I am in the same boat only with a 9mm stone. I am using a all natural product called Renavive, which in time dissolves the stone, and keeps you from pain and infection. Please look them up on the internet, they have wonderful reviews. I have been using this for a month now will have an x ray done soon. My hope is by July it will be small enough to pass and I will not need surgery, just the stent removed. This product is not expensive either. Best wishes for you.
Renee

nagendra

what is the reason of bleeding after removing kidney stone and placing stent

Prasen Inamdar

Iam 43, have a stent in after removal of 8mm stone which was blocking flow.Want to crib about blood,discomfort and too much urination…but thats nothing when I read about pregnant mothers with growing barbies and stents inserted..my pain seems lesser…speedy recovery to all!

Carolyn R

Had my stent placed on 3/10/15 after trying to pass a 3 MM stone since 2/19/15. The pain of the stone is horrible but sometimes I feel the stent is just as bad. They had to take the stone out because it was lodged in the ureter and creating backup and bacteria in my kidney which was slowing down my kidney function. I’m happy no permanent damage was done but I HATE this stent. I pee blood all the time, have flank pain, and burning while I pee. I feel I can never get comfortable. I’m hoping to be back to normal soon and not have to deal with this again. I’m sorry for everyone else who is suffering too. I hope everyone gets better soon. 🙁

Kellie

I had my stent placed in 13 February 15 this is the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever felt the urgency of going to the toilet bleeding every time I urinate the whole thing makes me so uncomfortable and I still have to have it in for a couple more months till they can remove my 7mm stone

chelsey

I am 26 years old and I just had a Stent put in last night…I kept getting kidney infections…finally found out that I have a 1.5 cm that clearly I can’t pass on my own I have no clue how long I have to deal with the Stent but I am sick and tired of being sick and tired

Whitney

I am 31 wks pregnant, and had a surgery for stent insertion back in mid-Jan. I still have the stent in, and am scheduled for a stent CHANGE in 3 wks. The pain comes and goes, but it’s definitely hurting a lot more since my baby is growing. I have flank pain and the stent feels like a screwdriver trying to escape my ureter. Cannot wait until I get the stent completely removed!!!

Abbey

I had a stent put in about 2 months ago. I had went into septic shock because of a kidney stone that had only caused me pain for about 6 hours. I almost didn’t make it because I also have COPD. My stent has caused me no problems up until today when I noticed some blood in my urine but after reading all these other stories I guess the blood is normal so I calmed down. I guess I am very lucky to have no problems with it because I needed it .

Nic

Wow reading this provided me with the feeling in not alone .
I am 30 weeks pregnant and a week ago had a stent places due to a 8mm stone .
I also have a lot of pain which I’m told is normal and a but of blood.
but with the extra weight if baby I seems to be worse that I imagined it would be .
I find after my bladder is empty is when the most pain hits !
It hurts when I walk or love to much , I haven’t tried a heat pack but think I will now !
I’m delivering my baby at 37 weeks.

Samantha

I am almost 30 weeks pregnant and had a stent put in when I was 24 weeks due to a 9mm stone. I feel like most people on here and just cannot wait to get back to my normal self and routine. I experience a lot of discomfort on top of having a growing baby inside. Some days are ok and some days are the worst. The pain will hit at different times and also if I do a lot of walking or standing. Heating pads and hot hot showers have become my best friend through all of this as it does provide some comfort. I

Amanda

I have been experiencing the same thing. I am 32 weeks pregnant and had a stent put in when I was 26 weeks. Not sure how big the stone is, but they said that I definitely have a blockage, and during the procedure determined that my kidney was definitely larger than it should be due to the irritation. Since the procedure I have been taken off of work and do not do much standing or walking. The Dr. said that I would feel fine and can resume normal activities immediately, however that’s not physically possible. We are looking at inducing at 38 weeks to hopefully deal with the kidney issues sooner. I have a stent replacement next week as well which I’m not exactly looking forward to.

Sandeepa

I too am pregnant and have 11 mm stone near my bladder and another 2 on my right which appears to be small .i had my stent put in at 27 weeks and I am 32 weeks now. I am having horrible pain near my bladder area especially when baby moves. I still sometime bleed when I wee, sit, walk and sleeping is still a big problem and doctors say I can still have normal delivery. I am seriously scared to go into labour now

Lori

I’ve had lots of pain from the kidney stones,and the stints,too! BUT,the worst pain I’ve ever dealt with,was the gas they left inside of my gutt from the surgery!! OMG! I’ve never prayed so hard for DIARRHEA in my life as I did 2 days ago after my kidney stone surgery! They must’ve thought I needed to have my belly blown up, like a helium balloon,or,something! OMG,the pain was unbearable!!! I was ready to call an ambulance! But,after passing out from the pain about 8 hours later,..I woke up sitting up in my recliner,with no more pain, whatsoever! I’ve been bleeding for almost 3 days. And,I’m feeling alittle sore in my back from the stint, too! But,I’ll never forget that horrible gas that would not come out! Now,I know what having a baby feels like! OMG!!! Even the kidney stones didn’t feel that bad next to that pain!! Wow!!! And, it’s almost over since the stint only has to stay in for 3 more weeks! Then,I’ll have to go to Phoenix,to get the other 2 out of my kidneys! They have the big machines there! Next time,I’ll have all of them done that way! No more surgery for me,if I can avoid it from now on! No thanks!!!

Brenda

I know what your talking about. i agree with you about stones being worst then having a kid and I have 1 kid to compare it to. I just got through having my 4th kidney stone remove today. I had the Ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. The laser the stone to small or dust pieces. The only thing I don’t like about it was the stent, it irritates me. Make you feel you have to pee a lot.

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