What is a stent?
Urine produced in the kidney flows through thin, twisted tube-shaped organs called ureters and reaches the urinary bladder. When a condition that prevents urine flow occurs, the kidneys and urinary tracts swell and the kidneys cannot function properly. In cases where the urinary tract is blocked, thin, twisted tubes called stents are placed to provide flow between the kidney and bladder. The stents extend through the bladder, ureters and kidney and provide urine flow through and to the side.
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In which cases are stents placed?
• Stents and catheters are the materials we urologists use the most to provide urine flow. The most common area of use of stents is kidney or ureteral stones. Stones formed in the kidney can block the urinary tract and cause swelling, blockage and serious pain in the kidney. In this case, a stent can be placed to provide urine flow in the kidney and to resolve the blockage in the kidney.
• After the kidney stone is broken, stone particles can cause blockage in the urinary tract. During surgery, many urologists may temporarily place a stent in the urinary tract after fragmentation of the stone with a laser.
• Tumors that press on the ureter (cervix, colon, rectum, lymphoma, endometrium ca) may press on the urinary tract from outside and block the flow of urine. In these cases, your urologist may decide to place a stent.
• Short-term stent placement may be required during surgical treatments for congenital urinary tract obstructions (ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) or ureterovesical junction (UVJ) stenosis).
• Temporary stent placement may be required during the healing process due to injuries to the urinary tract.
How is a kidney stent placed?
In the operating room, under anesthesia, a stent is placed by introducing the external urinary tract with a endoscope (cystoscope or ureteroscope) and directly viewing it from inside the bladder or ureter. During this procedure, the correct position of the stent is checked with X-rays.
What are the side effects of kidney stents?
The tip of the stent is curved and contacts the bladder surface. As a result, complaints such as bleeding in the urine, frequent urination, burning, and kidney pain are observed. These complaints increase especially after walking or heavy exercise. Your doctor may prescribe relaxing medications for these complaints.
How long does it take to remove kidney stents?
Stents that are usually placed in the urinary tract are removed within 3 months at the latest. This period may vary depending on why the stent is used and the findings your doctor detects during surgery. Your doctor will determine when your stent should be removed in the most accurate way.
Special stents are used in some oncology patients and these stents can remain in the patient for up to 1 year.
How is a Kidney Stent removed?
The upper end of kidney stents is in the kidney and the lower end is in the urinary bladder. The stent can be easily removed from the body by holding the lower end in the bladder and gently pulling it. For this purpose, a camera-equipped device is entered from the external urinary tract. The bladder is reached, the stent is grasped by the tip with a forceps-like device, and the stent is pulled out and removed from the body.
Is stent removal a painful procedure?
In men, the urinary tube called the urethra, which starts from the bladder, is curved and approximately 25 cm long. This procedure can be painful if performed with rigid instruments. For these reasons, if performed with rigid instruments, it will be more comfortable to perform the procedure under anesthesia.
Is stent removal with a flexible cystoscope painful?
Flexible cystoscopes are thinner and more flexible, and procedures performed with the devices are more comfortable and painless. It does not require hospitalization, and can be performed under local anesthesia and in clinical conditions.
Is there any pain after the stent is removed?
After the stent is removed, you may experience burning, bleeding, and mild pain in urine, especially on the same day. Your doctor may recommend that you use certain medications for these complaints.