Instructions for Patients with a Ureteral Stent

 

A stent is a tube that is placed in the body, inside the ureter.  It usually runs from the kidney to the bladder.  It helps patients pass stone fragments, blood clots, or prevents the ureter from collapsing. It also dilates (stretches) the ureter so that the stone or it’s fragments can pass by it. Notice that they are not supposed to pass through the small holes that it has.  This dilation also helps later on in removing the stone by a scope if this becomes necessary.

 

When a patient has a stent, he/she may have irritation in the bladder or have pain in his/her side during voiding.  The latter happens because during voiding, urine may back up into the kidney and cause pressure and pain for up to 45 minutes.  This is to be expected and will subside on its own. To help this one can make sure that he/she does not hold the urine for many hours. A full bladder will normally cause this reflux and pain.


*Some bleeding is expected because of the stent.  This really looks scary, however, normally is not serious.  If however, the patient passes large clots, then you need to call us.


It is important to remember that if you have a stent then there would be a plan to either remove it or exchange it. It is your duty to remind your physician about that.

 

NOTE: It may be that the doctor has elected to put a suture through the tip of the stent which you will notice coming out of the urethra. It is important not to pull on this thread, as this may result in dislodging the stent.