Ureteroscopy & Living With a Stent

Laser stone surgery and — the part people ask about most — what a ureteral stent actually feels like.

The procedure

Ureteroscopy treats stones in the ureter or kidney without any incision. Under general anesthesia, a thin scope is passed through the urethra and bladder up into the ureter. The stone is broken up with a laser and the fragments are removed with a small basket, or left small enough to pass.

It is highly effective and usually done as a same-day procedure. Most people go home a few hours afterward.

Why a stent is placed

A ureteral stent is a soft hollow tube running from the kidney to the bladder, with a curl at each end to hold it in place. It keeps the ureter open and draining while swelling from the procedure settles. It is not always necessary, but it is common — and it prevents the serious problem of a ureter that swells shut after surgery.

Stents are typically left for a few days up to two weeks. Some have a string attached to allow removal at home or in the office; others are removed with a brief office cystoscopy.

What a stent actually feels like

This is worth being direct about, because stent symptoms are the most common complaint after stone surgery and people are often unprepared for them.

Expect a persistent urge to urinate, urinating more often, discomfort in the bladder, and a flank ache when you urinate — caused by urine refluxing up the stent toward the kidney. Blood in the urine that comes and goes is normal and often worse after activity. Discomfort tends to be worse at the end of the day.

None of this means something is wrong. It means the stent is there. Symptoms resolve almost immediately once it is removed.

Making it more tolerable

Medications genuinely help — an alpha blocker to relax the ureter and bladder neck, an anti-inflammatory, and sometimes a bladder antispasmodic. Ask for them rather than enduring it.

Stay well hydrated. Take anti-inflammatories on a schedule for the first days rather than waiting for pain to build. Sit down to urinate if the flank ache is bothersome. Avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercise, which reliably worsen bleeding and discomfort.

One thing matters above all: a stent must not be forgotten. A stent left in place for months can encrust, obstruct, and cause serious damage. Put the removal date in your phone before you leave. If you are ever unsure whether your stent was removed, call us.