Prof. Dr. Emel Akoğlu
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Kidney & Bladder
Ureteral stenting
What ureteral stenting is, why a double-J stent is placed for stones, blockage or after surgery, how the procedure is done, what stent symptoms feel like, how long a stent can stay, how removal works, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, risks and how to check a urology hospital.
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Prof. Dr. Zerrin Biçik Bahçebaşı
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Ureteral stenting in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Ureteral stenting is the placement of a thin, flexible plastic tube, a stent, inside the ureter, the narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. The most common design is the double-J (or pigtail) stent: one end curls inside the kidney and the other inside the bladder, so the tube cannot slide out of place. Urine drains through the hollow centre and around the outside of the stent, which holds the ureter open even when it is blocked, swollen or healing.
A stent is a temporary measure, not a cure. It relieves a blockage or protects the ureter while another problem is treated. This guide explains why stents are used, what they feel like, how removal works, what the procedure costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, and what to ask a hospital. For the wider field see our urology treatments in Turkey.
Why is a ureteral stent placed?
Urologists place a stent in several situations:
- A kidney stone blocking the ureter, especially when there is infection or severe pain. The stent drains the kidney until the stone can be treated, as in kidney stone care.
- After ureteroscopy, when the ureter is swollen from the instrument or from stone fragments. Many patients have a stent for a few days to two weeks after the procedure.
- Narrowing (stricture) of the ureter, from scarring, previous surgery or radiation.
- Pressure from outside, for example from a tumour, enlarged lymph nodes or endometriosis, where a stent keeps urine flowing.
- Protection during abdominal or pelvic surgery, when surgeons want the ureters easier to identify and to heal safely.
- After a ureter injury or repair, to let the wall heal around a tube.
A blocked, infected kidney is a medical emergency, so in some situations stenting is done urgently, and the stone or other cause is treated in a second step once infection is controlled.
How is a ureteral stent placed?
The usual route is through the urethra, so there is no external cut. Under general anaesthesia, or sometimes spinal anaesthesia, the urologist passes a cystoscope into the bladder and finds the opening of the ureter. A guidewire is advanced up the ureter to the kidney, usually under X-ray (fluoroscopic) guidance, and the stent is slid over the wire. When the wire is withdrawn the two ends curl into place. The procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes and is often a day-case. In people whose ureter cannot be reached from below, a stent or a drainage tube can be placed through the back by an interventional radiologist; this is called a nephrostomy.
When stenting is combined with a stone procedure, it usually forms the last step of ureteroscopy or laser stone treatment.
What does a stent feel like, and how long do stent symptoms last?
Many people are surprised by how much a stent can be felt. The lower end sits in the bladder and irritates it, and urine can flow back up the stent to the kidney when you pass urine. The NHS and urology societies list the common symptoms:
- a frequent or urgent need to pass urine, including at night;
- pain or an ache in the flank or lower abdomen, which can sharpen as you pass urine;
- blood in the urine, pink or red, often worse after activity;
- a feeling of incomplete emptying and a burning sensation;
- discomfort in the groin or tip of the penis, or in the labia.
Some patients have only mild symptoms, while others find the stent difficult. Drinking plenty of fluid, taking prescribed painkillers or bladder-calming tablets such as alpha-blockers, and avoiding hard exercise usually help. Symptoms ease when the stent is removed. Fever, severe pain, heavy bleeding with clots, or being unable to pass urine need urgent medical attention.
How long can a ureteral stent stay in, and how is it removed?
The time depends on why it was placed. After ureteroscopy a stent often stays 1 to 14 days; for a stricture or for tumour-related blockage it may stay for months. Most standard stents are designed to be changed at about three to six months, and a stent left longer risks encrustation (stone-like deposits), infection and blockage. A forgotten stent is a known hospital problem, so always ask for a date and a written plan for removal or replacement.
Removal is usually quick. In most patients a flexible cystoscope is passed into the bladder under local anaesthetic gel, the end of the stent is gripped and it is drawn out in a minute or two; see our guide to cystoscopy. Some stents carry a thread that lets the stent be removed without a scope, a method used for short-term stenting after ureteroscopy. A stent that has become encrusted may need a laser or a more extensive procedure to remove.
Stent, nephrostomy or stone treatment: which is the right step?
A stent is not a stone treatment. It helps urine get past an obstruction; the stone must be broken, removed or passed. The table compares the common choices.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Ureteral stent | Blocked or infected kidney, swollen ureter after surgery, stricture | Temporary; causes bladder symptoms; needs removal |
| Nephrostomy tube | Severe infection, or a ureter that cannot be passed from below | External tube and bag; changed regularly |
| Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy | Treating the stone itself in the ureter or kidney; see ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy | Stent may still be left in afterwards |
Larger kidney stones may need percutaneous nephrolithotomy, where a stent or tube is often placed afterwards. The urologist chooses according to stone size, infection, kidney function and your general health.
Ureteral stenting cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for stent placement as a stand-alone procedure, not hospital quotes. They exclude treatment of a stone or other cause, which is priced separately.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €900 – €2,800 |
| United Kingdom | €2,500 – €6,000 |
| United States | €4,000 – €12,000 |
| Germany | €2,000 – €5,500 |
What changes the price: the type of anaesthesia, whether imaging and urine tests are included, the type of stent, a day-case or overnight stay and whether removal is included in the quote. A clear package lists the consultation, tests, procedure, anaesthetist, stent, hospital stay, medication and a date for removal. Ask who is responsible if the stent has to be changed. Our page on how it works shows how written quotes are prepared.
Can I travel with a stent, and what does recovery involve?
Recovery from the placement itself is short. Most people go home the same day or the next morning, with some burning, blood in the urine and urgency. Light activity is fine from the next day, and desk work can resume within one to three days if symptoms allow. Heavy exercise, lifting and long walks tend to worsen blood in the urine and flank pain, so many urologists suggest taking it easy for a week.
Flying with a stent is generally acceptable once the infection is controlled and you are fit, but check with the urologist. Remember that the stent has to be removed or changed on time: if you travel for treatment, agree where removal will take place and book it before you go home. Staying in Turkey for a few days to a week after a stone procedure, until the stent is out, avoids the risk of a forgotten stent. Plan on one to two weeks if a stone is treated at the same visit.
What are the risks and complications of a ureteral stent?
Stent placement is common and generally safe, but it has recognised risks, described by the NHS and the European Association of Urology: urinary infection, blood in the urine, flank pain, bladder irritation, stent migration, encrustation, injury to the ureter at placement and, rarely, blockage of the stent. Kidney infection with fever is the most serious problem and needs prompt treatment. Risk rises the longer a stent stays in. If you are unable to pass urine, have a high temperature or shivering, or heavy bleeding with clots, seek urgent care wherever you are.
How do I choose a urology hospital, and what are the red flags?
Choose a licensed hospital with a urologist who performs endoscopic stone and stent procedures every week, X-ray guidance in the theatre, an anaesthetist and the ability to deal with infection. Get a written plan that states why the stent is needed, how long it is expected to stay and who will remove it. Red flags include a quote with no named doctor, no date for removal, pressure to pay before any review of your scans, no way of contacting the team after you leave and a promise that the stent will cause no symptoms. Send your scans and reports via our free quote page for a written plan.
What should I ask the clinic before booking?
- Why do I need a stent, and what will treat the underlying cause?
- How long will the stent stay in, and when and where will it be removed?
- Is removal included in the price, and what if the stent needs replacing?
- Which anaesthesia is used, and is it a day-case?
- What can I take for stent symptoms, and when should I seek urgent help?
- Is it safe for me to fly with the stent?
- Will I receive a written note stating the date and type of stent?
Hospitals with Urology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is the placement of a thin plastic tube, usually a double-J stent, in the ureter between the kidney and the bladder. The stent keeps the ureter open so urine drains even if there is a stone, swelling or a narrowing.
Common reasons are a stone blocking the ureter, swelling after ureteroscopy, a narrowing of the ureter, pressure from a tumour or a protective step during pelvic surgery. A stent treats the drainage problem, not the stone itself.
Approximate ranges are €900 to €2,800 in Turkey, against about €2,500 to €6,000 in the UK. The price depends on anaesthesia, imaging, hospital stay and whether removal is included; the hospital confirms it in writing.
The placement is done under anaesthesia. Afterwards many people feel flank ache, urgency and blood in the urine, and some find the stent uncomfortable. Painkillers, fluids and bladder-calming medication usually help, and symptoms ease after removal.
After ureteroscopy it is often left for 1 to 14 days; longer-term stents are generally changed every three to six months. Leaving a stent too long risks infection and encrustation, so removal must be planned and written down.
Usually through a short flexible cystoscopy: a thin camera is passed into the bladder under local anaesthetic gel, the stent is gripped and drawn out in a minute or two. Some short-term stents have a thread for removal.
Pink or red urine is common, especially after activity, and often clears with rest and plenty of fluids within a few days. Heavy bleeding with clots, fever or being unable to pass urine needs urgent medical attention.
Often yes once infection is controlled and the urologist agrees, but the stent must be removed on time. If you travel for treatment, arrange the removal date and the place before you leave, and keep a written record of the stent.
It is a very common and generally safe procedure. Risks include infection, bleeding, bladder irritation, stent movement and encrustation if it stays too long. Choosing an experienced urologist and keeping to the removal date reduces them.
For stenting alone one to three days is often enough. If a stone is treated at the same visit and the stent is removed before you travel, plan one to two weeks; the urologist advises on this.
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