What is a Kidney Stone Stent?
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A kidney stone stent is a flexible plastic tube inserted between a kidney and the bladder to facilitate the passage of a kidney stone. Also known simply as a stent, a kidney stone stent is simply one of many treatment options which can be considered for kidney stones. If a doctor recommends a stent for a patient, the doctor should be able to estimate how long the stent will be left in, and he or she should articulate a plan for the removal of the stent.
When a kidney stone stent is placed, the patient may be given a general or a local anesthetic, depending on the situation. A cystoscope is inserted into the urinary tract to allow the doctor, commonly a urologist, to see, and the stent is carefully threaded into the ureter and left in place. Coils or J-shaped hooks at either end of the stent keep it place so that it cannot drift once it has been inserted. As a general rule, a kidney stone stent can be left in place for up to six weeks, at which point it will need to be removed.
Commonly, a stent is inserted when it appears possible that a patient will pass a kidney stone, with a little help. The stent helps urine drain from the kidneys to the bladder, clearing any obstructions and hopefully bringing stones along with it. Stents may also be inserted after cystoscopy or surgical removal of a kidney stone to ensure that urine drains properly for a few days or weeks while the ureter gets a chance to heal. If the stent is left in too long, it can develop deposits of material which could lead to infection or obstruction of the ureter.
One of the most important things to know about a kidney stone stent is that it can be extremely painful. This varies, depending on the patient, but many people report a tugging or pulling sensation, and a constant need to urinate. The stent can become painful or irritating during exercise sessions or early in the morning, and certain body positions may be intolerable with a stent in place because they place too much strain on the stent. Some patients have expressed unhappiness because they were not adequately warned about the difficulties involved in wearing a stent, and it is important to address specific concerns such as exercise routines with a doctor before a kidney stone stent is placed.
During stent removal, the patient is usually placed under a local anesthetic while the doctor visualizes the area and gently removes the stent. Patients may experience some pain and soreness for several days after a kidney stone stent is removed, as their ureters heal.
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17
I've had kidney stones for three years and had three lipotripsy treatments that didn't do anything but make me bleed.
I was recently woken by a excruciating pain so i decided that was enough and went to hospital where i had to wait eight hrs for a bed and four days for treatment. after having stent inserted, i got back to the ward where a nurse was waiting and explained what pain i will go through in a "oh yeah i forgot to mention" kind of way. My stent has been in three days now and i had the worst pain yet. Pure blood, blood clots and constant pain since having this stent and i think i am in a lot worse pain than before and Diclofenac painkillers do not work! Anyone who has kidney stones ask for an alternative way because it is just not worth the hassle or pain and if you live in Leicester, England and you're going to the general hospital, God help you! - anon53680
16
I've just had my first stone (5 mm). My name is Gerard. There has got to be a less painful way to removing stones or improving stenting. - anon52409
15
this was my second time for a stent and it hurt like hell. i was so sick and the vicodin didn't help. and i just went to my doctor's office and he removed it. i don't know if i ever want another one again. has anyone ever been allergic to the material the stent was made of?
the day after, i felt like a new person whereas before, i couldn't eat, i had a bad taste in my mouth and i just felt i couldn't drink any more water. - anon52100
14
I woke up a few weeks ago with everything fine one minute and the next in severe pain -- nothing like i felt before and i have two kids. I ended up in the emergency room to find out it was a kidney stone, 5mm by 9mm, and after several doses of pain meds and phenergan, i was released and sent to the specialist, who says i have a urinary tract infection so he can't do anything, but the pain was so bad he decided to go ahead with surgery no. 1 of inserting a stent. Then, a week later, the infection was better and he decided to do surgery no. 2 of sound wave to bust the stone, and of course this has been three weeks now and I haven't passed anything. the first week i lost 11 pounds. nothing would stay down. i have just started eating two meals a day. the pain is still bad and the nurse says stay in bed and take the pain meds every four hours. my doctor's appointment is still a week away, so I've had a month with a stent and everyone is telling me this doctor doesn't give anything before he removes it and it scares me. - anon52033
13
I had a surgery for a kidney stones two times last year. the first one was that they make a cut on my left side where the stone was. after several months the doctor told me to come back for a ct scan and he found out that there are still some stomes, so he put another stent for a week. It hurts so much, so i called for an appointment for removal. After a year i had my follow up ct scan again and there's still 9.8 mm left. i made an appointment again because he suggested putting in another stent and i'm still waiting for their call. It's not easy. i just keep praying. - anon50342
12
I had surgery in early October and they put in a stent. No one told me what pain I would have after they put that in. I thought i had an urinary tract infection when it was the stent causing my bladder to bleed when im doing to much. So when I'm at work (bartender) for a couple hours then clock out because my bladder starts to bleed then i get a severe side ache on the side where the stent is. So needless to say, take it easy when you have this procedure done. Vicotin, Percocet and Demerol did not work for pain. Good luck! - anon49734
11
Taking the stent out with just local anesthesia was horrible. Not the DIY kind -- doc had to use a scope. Very strange, painful and not fun experience. - anon48585
10
I am six months pregnant and I have had the stent in for five weeks now. The bladder spasms, pain and infrequency I experienced during the 2-3 weeks after the stent was placed was almost unbearable. The doctor wants to change my stent in the next two weeks but I don't think I can go through that again especially while pregnant. Does anyone have any information on how long the stent can be in for? If I wait until after I deliver it will be about four months. - anon48180
9
I just had my kidney stone surgically removed, and it hurt like hell, man! The thing is I'm a guy. Also they put in a stent, which doesn't hurt too horribly. The problem is, that I have the stent being removed this Friday. God! I'm scared. Does anyone out there know how painful it's going to be to remove it, and what/how do they remove it? Do I get some kind of shot, so its not too painful? God, somebody, give me some advice, please? - anon47725
8
this is my second stent in six months. the pain is excrutiating to the point i can hardly put my left foot (the side of the stent) to the ground. i am a plumber by trade and dread every day and how i am going to cope, because i always vomit through the pain. - anon47295
7
I have a stent in currently. I have had it for 19 days. This is my second stent. I have recurring kidney stones.
My stent is slightly different from what is portrayed in this article. I literally have a string that extends out from my urethra. Initially, it was taped to my penis, but the doctor advised I could let it hang. The funny thing is, it will disappear from time to time. Once I urinate, it reappears. No kidding. It is suture thread and quite rigid.
Removal is interesting, to say the least. I was asked to lower my pants and hold the edge of the table. The nurse looped the thread around her finger multiple times. She told me to exhale, then pulled slowly and consistently until it was out. No pain meds or anesthesia.
Just my honest experience. - anon46735
6
I we be getting out my stent tomorrow and I am counting the hours. It is so painful. I have not slept since leaving the hospital for more than an hour at a time. tI hope that it will get better after being removed. This is the third time I have had kidney stones. I am now 50 years old. Good luck to all with a stent. I hope it was worth it to save my kidney. - anon46260
5
I have had a stent in 5 months now and it is painful but bearable when I take Pyridium which has a generic equivalent. I think the Pyridium, which reduces spasms, works better than the Vicodin. My first stent was in 4 months - way too long. The longer it was in the more painful and uncomfortable it became. The second one was in about one month. The doctor removed it even though there was a stone in the ureter (2 OWLs were unsuccessful) and hoped the stone would come out with the stent - it didn't. I became very ill, vomiting, chills, pain, almost immediately and was hospitalized the next morning and stent no. 3 was placed. I worry about long term affects of these stents and three laser treatments trying to get at stones and two ESWL. My kidney must be battered. - anon45923
4
That's true. The pain with the stone in itself is too much. Then with the stent it continues. What is this? There needs to be a better way. All those who intend to undergo this procedure must be aware that the stent may be more pain causing than the stone itself. Please consult your doctor about this before you submit to it. Please. sanjay - anon44343
3
Kidney stones are definitely a gross understatement of the pain you will endure. Then to top it off they place a stent in which causes further pain. I was given Hydrocodone 5/325 to take at home. Needless to say it did not even touch the pain. I think doctors take it for granted the pain you will endure and fail to tell you just how bad it is going to be which is definitely a gross oversight. They are no fun and it takes days to recoup maybe even longer as I just went through it last week and am still miserable. Got to be a better way. - anon41253
2
I had a kidney stone surgically removed and a stint put in place. I have had four children and this is ten times worse. Doctors should really explain better to their patients before doing this procedure. And, I am told I can remove it myself in a week. Cause I like inflicting pain on myself? Is this normal? - anon40204
1
I have a stent in right now. To say it causes pain is a gross understatement. I take Endone to counter the pain and can just get by. The prospect of several weeks with this stent is horrid. - anon40023
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Written by
S.E. Smith
Last Modified: 23 November 2009
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