Overview

A ureteric stent is a thin plastic tube that’s inserted into your ureter (tube that connects the kidney to the bladder) when you have a kidney transplant. It makes sure that you could pee (pass urine) after surgery. Stents are not designed to be in the body for a long period of time and are usually removed 3 to 6 weeks after a kidney transplant. This is a day-case procedure and is done in the kidney clinic at Guy’s Hospital.

If you have not received details of an appointment to have your ureteric stent removed 3 to 6 weeks after your transplant, please contact the transplant nurse responsible for your care, phone: 020 7188 7188 and ask for the bleep desk, then ask for bleep 2040 and wait for a response.

Risks of ureteric stent removal

There’s a slight risk of getting an infection in the 48 hours after the stent is removed.

Preparing for having a ureteric stent removed

You can eat and drink normally on the day of your appointment.

When you arrive, we’ll need a sample of your pee to check that you do not have an infection. If you do, the procedure may be cancelled and rescheduled. 

You’ll be given a single dose of an antibiotic before the procedure to reduce the chance of you getting an infection afterwards.

Consent - asking for your consent

We want to involve you in decisions about your care and treatment. If you decide to proceed, you’ll be asked to consent verbally or it might be written into the procedure depending on the type of stent ( magnetic or standard). This states that you understand what the treatment involves and agree to have it.

If you’d like more information about our consent process, please speak to a member of staff caring for you.

During removal of a ureteric stent

You’ll be told which type of stent you have.

Standard stent

The stent removal takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and is a procedure called flexible cystoscopy. This uses a fibre optic tube with a tiny camera on the end (cystoscope), that can move around bends in your urinary system so that we can see the stent.

You’ll be asked to remove your clothes from the lower half of your body including your underwear, and lie on your back.

The opening of the urethra (tube that takes pee out of your body) and the surrounding area will be cleaned. This is at the end of the penis in males, and near the vagina in females. Some gel containing anaesthetic will be put in the urethra to reduce the discomfort of the procedure.

The cystoscope is about the width of a pencil and will be slowly put into your bladder. We’ll add sterile water to make it easier for the nurse to see the stent sitting in your bladder. You might feel some discomfort as your bladder fills.

A tool (grasper) will be passed carefully through the cystoscope to take hold of the stent, and then they are both slowly withdrawn together from your bladder.

You’ll be asked to pee after the removal.

Magnetic stent

The procedure is the same as above but instead of a cystoscope we will use a magnetic retriever wand to remove the stent.

Pain during the procedure

You might feel some discomfort during the procedure, and for up to 24 hours afterwards. If you do, you should take your normal painkiller tablets. Always follow the instructions on the packet and never take more than the recommended amount (dose).

After a ureteric stent removal

After the procedure you can go home.

When you have left hospital

You might have the following side effects for up to 24 hours after having the stent removed.

• A stinging or burning sensation when peeing.
• Pain when peeing
• Blood in your pee.

Drinking plenty of water (2 to 3 litres, spread out over 24 hours, unless you have been asked to restrict your fluids) can help to clear your pee. If your pee is still pink after a few days, please contact us or your GP.

Follow-up appointments

You will have a follow-up appointment about 1 week after the procedure.