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Stent Removal

You had a stent placed in your left/right/bilateral ureter(s) to help urine drain from the kidney to the bladder after surgery.

Your Stent is temporary and must be removed in the future!

Stents that don't get removed can cause permanent long term kidney damage, so it is imperative that you follow-up with us to make sure that your stent is removed in the appropriate time frame.

Your stent removal

  • You will be scheduled for stent removal in our clinic
  • Please make every effort to attend this appointment.
  • If you are unable to make this appointment, please contact the UF Urology clinic at (352) 265-8240.

If you have a stent on strings

If you have a stent on strings, please follow the instructions of your provider on which day you can remove it.

What is a stent?

A ureteral stent is a thin, flexible piece of plastic that will hold your ureter open to allow your kidney to drain while your ureter is healing from the surgery. The stent is about 12 inches long and looks like a thin, hollow piece of spaghetti. The stent is the cause of most of your symptoms after surgery.

What are the risks of not removing my stent on time?

Stents that remain in the kidney for too long can cause several complications. This includes:

  • Encrustation: new stone material forms on the stent, making it harder to remove
  • Migration: the stent moves from the correct spot into a different spot, which can cause kidney blockage
  • Obstruction: the stent "expires" and stops working, leading to kidney blockage
  • Kidney failure: from the kidney being blocked too long by an expired stent
  • Infection: bacteria grow on the stent over time and make you very sick
  • Death: from complications of the reasons above

Symptoms you may have from your stent

After the procedure you may experience all, or some of, the following symptoms. These are mostly related to the stent in your ureter, and should get better in 1-2 days AFTER your stent is removed. It is NORMAL to have these symptoms.

  • Urinary frequency: urinating more often than usual
  • Urinary urgency: the feeling that you need to urinate right away
  • Painful urination: this can be pain in your bladder or in your back when you urinate
  • Blood in your urine:
    • Stents can irritate the lining of your bladder causing it to bleed
    • The amount of blood can range from light pink to brown in color. If your urine looks thick and red like ketchup you should contact your doctor.
  • You may also pass small particles of blood clot or stone dust in the days after surgery.
  • As long as your urine is flowing freely and not "blocked off," this is normal.

Pain management

  • It is normal to have pain after surgery, even while taking pain medicine.
  • Stent "pain" is different from most other types of pain.
  • It is a combination of bladder irritation, urinary frequency and urgency, burning with urination, and sometimes kidney soreness around the time of urination or if the bladder gets too full.
  • The symptoms are different for everyone, each symptom should be treated differently, and therefore each patient's best treatment regimen is unique.

Medications

You may have been medications given to help with pain and associated symptoms. Try to take only the medications that you need, and taper them off as soon as the symptoms start to get better.

Diclofenac

  • A prescription strength anti-inflammatory which has been shown to provide superior pain control for kidney pain compared to narcotics.Do not take ibuprofen or naproxen while taking this.
  • Use as directed on bottle.

Tamsulosin

  • Prescription to decrease ureter spasm and pain.
  • Take every night at bedtime; start the day after surgery.

Oxybutynin

  • Prescription to decrease bladder spasms.
  • Take up to three times per day as needed.

Phenazopyridine

  • Prescription for painful or burning urination due to irritation from surgery.
  • This will turn your urine orange.
  • Take up to three times per day as needed with food.

Ondansetron

  • Prescription to treat post-operative nausea.
  • Take every 8 hours as needed for nausea.

Oxycodone

  • Small quantity prescription only to be used for breakthrough pain which is not responding to your other medications.
  • Take every 8 hours as needed for breakthrough pain.

Acetaminophen

  • Over-the-counter general pain reliever. Provides excellent post-operative pain control when taken on a schedule throughout the day,
  • Take every 4-6 hours for the first few days after surgery. Very important to follow the specific dosing instructions written on the bottle.

Polyethylene gycol (Miralax)

  • Over-the-counter for the relief of constipation.
  • Mix one capful in 8oz. cold water. Stay well hydrated while taking it or else it will not work.
  • Take at least once per day until no longer taking pain medication.

Antibiotic

  • For the treatment or prevention of urinary tract infection.
  • Take as prescribed once you get home and/or in the days leading up to your future procedure.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact the UF Urology clinic at (352) 265-8240.