JJ-stent placement

A stent is a plastic tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder inside the kidney tube (ureter). It has a loop at each end to prevent the stent from migrating to either your kidney or to the bladder. A stent is placed to facilitate drainage of urine from the kidney to the bladder.

A JJ-stent is inserted to relieve any blockage in the ureter. Like for instance:

A stone in the ureter
Sometimes surgery or disease close to the ureter can cause a blockage in the ureter

After surgery to the ureter or instrument insertion into the ureter or kidney, you might need a JJ-stent to help the healing process and to facilitate drainage of urine.

The JJ-stent is inserted in theatre under general anaesthesia. You will receive some antibiotics in the theatre before the procedure. The urologist will use a camera (cystoscope) to look inside the bladder. The JJ-stent will be pushed up the ureter until the upper tip is inside the kidney.

We use x-rays in theatre to make sure the position of the stent is correct.

Diagram

What can I expect after stent placement?

Most patients will be aware of the stent. Some patients experience mild discomfort and others will have severe pain. Most symptoms or side-effects get better over time.

Symptoms or side-effects you may experience:

Burning or bloody urine when passing urine. This might continue until the stent is removed.
Pain in the side when passing urine.
Constant feeling of wanting to pass urine.
You might get a sudden urge to pass urine.
Symptoms might get worse after exercise or strenuous activity.
You might develop an infection that will need antibiotics, sometimes even admission.

Stent removal

Normally after the stent placement, you will need another procedure to either relieve the obstruction or just to remove the stent.
Stent removal is again done by passing the cystoscope into your bladder and pulling it out with a grasping tool.
It might be done in theatre under general anaesthesia or it can be done in the rooms with local anaesthesia like a numbing gel.
Normally after the stent removal, you can go home the same day.
Your urologist might decide to insert a JJ-stent with a thread tied to the stent. The stent can then be pulled out by pulling on the thread. This is done in the consultation rooms or you can pull the stent out yourself at home.

What can I expect when I go home?

You might still experience burning when passing urine or have blood in the urine. Drink a lot of water/fluids. This will ease the discomfort caused by the stent and also help to clear the urine of blood.
60% of patients experience symptoms that feels like an infection – burning of urine, passing urine frequently, urge to pass urine. This might continue until the stent is removed.
You will be given a prescription for medication that you can take at home.

The receptionist at you doctors rooms will contact you to arrange a date for the follow-up procedure date. If you have not heard from them after a week, please phone the rooms and ask for a date to have the stent removed.

Phone us if any of the following occurs