Page 1 - Ureteric Stenting - Discharge Instructions
P. 1
Urological Health
Ureteric stenting
Discharge instructions
A ureteric stent is placed to relieve obstruction of a ureter or to assist urine drainage from
a kidney.
ureteric stent is placed to relieve obstruction Stent symptoms
A of a ureter or to assist urine drainage from a
kidney. The ureter is the tube draining urine from Although some patients feel no differently after
each kidney into the bladder. A ureteric stent is a thin placement of a ureteric stent, most are aware of
plastic tube that sits within the ureter, from the kidney some changes. It is not unusual to have some bladder
to the bladder, allowing urine to drain freely. discomfort, especially with urination. There may be
increased urgency and frequency of urination. Mild
A ureteric stent is not permanent. It may be left in for blood staining of the urine or passing small blood clots
a few days, or even up to several months. The stent may be seen when a stent is in place. These symptoms
eventually must be removed or replaced as it can may increase with physical activity, are related to
become obstructed with debris. bladder irritation from the stent and are normal.
Restriction of strenuous physical activity may become
necessary while a ureteric stent is in place.
There may be mild discomfort in the back with
urination while a ureteric stent is in place. This is
harmless and related to backflow of urine toward the
kidney through the stent, by-passing the one-way
kidney
valve that normally prevents such backflow. There
may be small traces of blood in the urine, or more
frequent and urgent urination.
ureter
Any discomfort can usually be controlled with
acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol™) or ibuprofen (e.g.
ureteric
stent Advil™). Occasionally, discomfort is such that a
stronger painkiller available only by prescription,
such as acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol #3™),
bladder may be required. Frequent or urgent urination and
discomfort may be relieved with urinary muscle
urethra relaxant medication, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan™),
tolterodine (Detrol™), or tamsulosin (Flomax™).
Stent related symptoms may be troublesome, but they
do not cause any serious physical damage. These
The stent will often be removed in an outpatient clinic symptoms will resolve quickly after the ureteric stent is
by cystoscopy (insertion of a scope into the bladder removed.
through its outlet). In some cases the stent is required
for a brief period of time. In these cases your urologist Continued on next page
may have left a thread attached to the stent that
comes out of the urethra to allow easy removal.
