Ureteric stents

What is a ureteric stent?

A ureteric stent is a thin, soft plastic tube that sits between the kidney and the bladder. It has a small curl at each end to keep it in place. Its job is to make sure urine can drain down from the kidney to the bladder, even when the natural channel (the ureter) is not working properly.

Why a stent might be used

The most common reasons for placing a stent are:

• Kidney stones blocking the ureter - the stent bypasses the stone, urine can drain, the pain settles, and any infection has somewhere to go.
• To protect the ureter after a procedure such as ureteroscopy (where a small telescope is used to break up or remove a stone). The ureter can go into spasm afterwards, and small stone fragments can block it; the stent keeps things draining while it heals.
• A narrowing (stricture) of the ureter, or pressure on the ureter from outside.

What it feels like to have a stent

Some people feel almost nothing. Others notice:

• Bladder irritation - urgency, frequency, or going more often than usual.
• Pain in the kidney area when passing urine, because some urine can travel back up the stent.
• A small amount of blood in the urine, especially after exercise. This usually settles.

Some men find that arching backwards, bending forward, or pressing a closed fist low down into the pelvis while passing urine helps the discomfort.

How a stent is removed

Removing a stent is usually simpler than putting one in. It can be done either:

• In the rooms, using local anaesthetic gel and a flexible cystoscope. This takes a few minutes.
• Under a light anaesthetic, if a further look up the ureter is needed (for example to check there are no remaining stones).