Ureteric stent insertion (insertion of a ureteric (JJ / double-J) stent)

A short procedure to place a soft, hollow tube inside the ureter so urine can drain from the kidney to the bladder when the natural drainage is blocked or at risk.

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

A ureteric stent is a temporary tube that keeps urine draining from the kidney to the bladder when the ureter is blocked or at risk.
It relieves or prevents a blockage but does not by itself treat the cause, such as a stone or tumour.
Stents commonly cause bladder symptoms — needing to pass urine often, some blood in the urine, and kidney or bladder discomfort, especially when passing urine.
A stent must be removed or changed on time, so it is essential to know your removal date and not forget it.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeMinor procedure (telescope-guided)

AnaestheticOften general anaesthetic; sometimes local or sedation

How long it takesUsually 15–30 minutes

Hospital stayOften day case; depends on the reason it is needed

Time off workOften a few days; depends on the underlying problem

When you'll see resultsDrainage is restored straight away; the stent stays for a planned period then is removed or changed

On the NHS?Routinely available on the NHS when clinically needed; private care is used mainly for speed or choice

A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Quickly relieves a blocked kidney and the pain it can cause

Pause if

A stent is not a treatment for the cause of a blockage on its own — the stone, narrowing or tumour still needs addressing.

Main recovery point

If you had a general anaesthetic or sedation, you recover until awake and able to pass urine and drink, then usually go home. Some stinging and blood in...

Good aftercare

A clearly booked removal or change date and a reliable reminder system

First few hours

If you had a general anaesthetic or sedation, you recover until awake and able to pass urine and drink, then...

First days

Bladder symptoms (frequency, urgency, some blood, discomfort) are common. Drinking plenty of fluids and simple...

While the stent is in

Symptoms often continue at a low level. Vigorous exercise can worsen them. You carry on with normal life as much...

Stent removal or change

Usually a quick procedure, often under local anaesthetic via a telescope, or by pulling a string if one was left...

Medical line illustration of male lower urinary tract anatomy for Ureteric stent insertion. — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is a ureteric stent and why is it inserted?

A ureteric stent is a soft, hollow plastic tube placed inside the ureter — the narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. It has a curl at each end (which is why it is often called a 'JJ' or 'double-J' stent) to hold it in place, one curl in the kidney and one in the bladder.

The stent keeps the ureter open so urine can drain. It is used when the ureter is blocked or narrowed — for example by a kidney stone, by swelling, by a tumour pressing on it, or after surgery on the kidney or ureter. It may also be placed to protect the ureter during or after an operation, or to relieve a blocked kidney that is causing pain or infection.

A stent is a temporary measure. It does not treat the cause of the blockage on its own; it buys time and keeps the kidney draining while the underlying problem is dealt with. Stents are removed or changed after a planned period, because if left too long they can become blocked or encrusted.

This guide explains what to expect and the symptoms a stent can cause. It is not personal medical advice — your urologist will explain why you specifically need one.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

Standard JJ (double-J) stent

The usual soft plastic stent with a curl at each end, placed from the bladder up to the kidney. Used for most short- to medium-term needs.

Stent inserted with a string

A stent left with a fine thread out through the urethra, allowing removal without a telescope after a short period — convenient for very temporary use.

Long-term or specialist stent

A firmer or metal stent used when a blockage (for example from a tumour) is expected to last a long time, changed at longer intervals under specialist care.

Nephrostomy (alternative drainage)

Not a stent, but an alternative: a tube placed through the skin into the kidney to drain urine into an external bag, used when a stent cannot be placed or is unsuitable.

Stent vs nephrostomy

Feature	Ureteric stent	Nephrostomy
Where it sits	Internal, kidney to bladder	Tube through the skin into the kidney
Visible bag	No	Yes, external bag
Typical use	Most blockages	When a stent can't be placed
Main downside	Bladder symptoms	External tube and bag to manage

Both keep the kidney draining. Your team chooses based on the cause, urgency and your anatomy, and sometimes both are used together.

Preparing for your procedure

Ask why you need the stent, how long it is likely to stay in, and what the plan is to treat the underlying blockage.
Tell the team about all medicines, especially blood thinners, and any allergies, including to X-ray contrast dye.
Mention if you might be pregnant, as this affects imaging and the type of anaesthetic.
Follow fasting instructions if you are having a general anaesthetic or sedation.
Arrange a lift home if you have sedation or a general anaesthetic.
Make a note of the planned removal or change date and how it will be arranged — this is important and easy to forget.

What happens

A stent is usually inserted using a cystoscope — a thin telescope passed through the urethra (the water pipe) into the bladder. This is often done under a general anaesthetic, but sometimes under sedation or local anaesthetic gel, depending on the situation.

The urologist passes a fine guidewire up the ureter towards the kidney, using X-ray pictures to check the position, then slides the stent over the wire so one curl sits in the kidney and the other in the bladder. The wire is removed once the position is confirmed. No cut is needed because the stent goes in through the natural water pipe.

The procedure usually takes about 15–30 minutes. If you had a general anaesthetic or sedation you will recover for a short time before going home, often the same day, although this depends on why the stent was needed and how well you are.

Is this procedure right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

A stent is not a treatment for the cause of a blockage on its own — the stone, narrowing or tumour still needs addressing.
It may be unsuitable if the urethra or bladder cannot be safely accessed, when a nephrostomy may be used instead.
Severe untreated urine infection may need draining and antibiotics before or alongside stenting rather than a routine elective insertion.
Some people cannot tolerate stent symptoms and may need an alternative form of drainage.
A blockage that can be definitively treated at the same sitting may not need a stent at all.

Delay or rearrange if…

You have signs of active, severe infection that need urgent treatment and the right setting.
Blood-thinning medicines have not yet been reviewed where bleeding risk is a concern.
You might be pregnant and imaging or anaesthetic choices need adjusting.
Fasting instructions for a general anaesthetic or sedation have not been followed.
Transport home after sedation or a general anaesthetic is not arranged.

Alternatives to discuss

Nephrostomy — drainage through the skin into the kidney — when a stent cannot be placed
Definitive treatment of the cause (such as removing a stone) without leaving a stent, where possible
Watchful waiting with pain relief for a small stone likely to pass on its own
Treating an infection and reassessing before deciding on drainage
No intervention in selected situations after specialist discussion

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Comfort, sedation or contrast choices

If local anaesthetic, sedation, contrast or pain relief is used, ask what is planned, why, and what it means afterwards.

General anaesthetic

Commonly used so you are asleep during insertion, especially if combined with other treatment.

Sedation

May be used so you are relaxed and drowsy but not fully asleep.

Local anaesthetic

Numbing gel into the urethra can be enough for some insertions and for many stent removals.

Benefits

Quickly relieves a blocked kidney and the pain it can cause
Protects the kidney from damage caused by a build-up of urine
Helps treat or prevent infection in a blocked, obstructed kidney
Keeps the ureter open during and after surgery or while a stone is treated
Avoids the need for an external drainage tube and bag in most cases

Risks & complications

More common

Needing to pass urine more often and more urgently
Some blood in the urine, which may come and go while the stent is in
Discomfort or pain in the bladder or kidney area, often worse when passing urine or when active
A feeling of not fully emptying the bladder

Less common

Urine infection, with burning, fever or feeling unwell
The stent moving out of position, causing more discomfort or poor drainage
Discomfort during sex
Difficulty tolerating the stent, occasionally needing it removed or changed early

Rare but serious

The stent becoming blocked or heavily encrusted, especially if left in too long
A 'forgotten' stent left in far too long, leading to stones, blockage and kidney damage
Injury to the ureter during insertion
Serious infection of the kidney or bloodstream (sepsis), which is an emergency

The biggest specific risk is a 'forgotten stent': if a stent is left in much longer than planned it can encrust, block, and damage the kidney. Make sure you know your removal or change date and have it booked. Bladder symptoms are very common and usually settle once the stent is out — ask your team how to manage them and when to seek help for signs of infection.

Published figures to discuss

Stent insertion is usually straightforward, but bladder symptoms are very common rather than rare, and their severity varies a lot between people and with the stent's length and position. Serious complications are uncommon. Figures for stent symptoms come from quality-of-life studies and vary widely.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Stent-related bladder symptoms	Very common — most studies report symptoms in the majority of patients, often over half	Severity varies with stent length and position and usually settles after removal.	Guide sourcesClinical context
Urine infection while the stent is in	Uncommon to occasional; risk rises with longer dwell time, stones, pregnancy, diabetes and prior infection	Needs prompt treatment; fever with loin pain can signal a serious blocked, infected kidney.	Ureteral stent complications in 50,000 procedures — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context
Stent encrustation or blockage if left too long	Time-dependent: around 9–27% before 6 weeks in older series, rising to about three quarters after 12 weeks	The reason a clear removal or change date is essential.	Ureteral stent complications in 50,000 procedures — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

There is little physical recovery from the insertion itself, but living with a stent can cause ongoing bladder symptoms until it is removed. 'Recovery' here is mostly about managing those symptoms and getting the stent out on time.

First few hours

If you had a general anaesthetic or sedation, you recover until awake and able to pass urine and drink, then usually go home. Some stinging and blood in the urine are common at first.

First days

Bladder symptoms (frequency, urgency, some blood, discomfort) are common. Drinking plenty of fluids and simple pain relief help. Most people return to light activity quickly, depending on the underlying problem.

While the stent is in

Symptoms often continue at a low level. Vigorous exercise can worsen them. You carry on with normal life as much as possible until removal.

Stent removal or change

Usually a quick procedure, often under local anaesthetic via a telescope, or by pulling a string if one was left. Symptoms usually settle within days afterwards.

What's normal — and not a worry

Passing urine more often and more urgently while the stent is in
Blood in the urine that comes and goes, often worse after activity
A dragging or stinging feeling in the bladder or kidney, especially when passing urine
Symptoms easing within a few days once the stent is removed

Aftercare

Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the system and ease symptoms, unless told otherwise.
Take simple pain relief such as paracetamol as advised for stent discomfort.
Avoid very strenuous exercise if it makes bleeding or pain worse.
Watch for signs of infection — fever, burning, increasing pain or feeling unwell — and seek help promptly.
Keep a clear note of your removal or change date and attend the appointment.
Ask whether the symptoms you have are expected, and what would be a reason to call.
Know who to contact, day or night, if you develop severe pain or fever.

Before your procedure

Removal or change date written down and booked
Simple pain relief at home
Plenty of fluids planned
Lift home arranged if you had sedation or a general anaesthetic
Understanding of the plan to treat the underlying blockage
Clinic or urology out-of-hours contact saved
Note of what infection symptoms to watch for

Scars and how they heal

No cut is made, because the stent is placed through the natural water pipe, so there is no scar.

⚠ Get urgent help if…

A high temperature, shivering or feeling very unwell (possible serious infection — seek urgent help)
Severe or worsening pain in the kidney or bladder area
Being unable to pass urine at all
Heavy bleeding or large clots in the urine
Burning, cloudy or strong-smelling urine with feeling unwell (urine infection)
Vomiting with loin pain and fever (possible blocked, infected kidney — this is an emergency)

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A stent that is working keeps the kidney draining and relieves the pain of a blockage, while the underlying cause is treated. Many people have manageable bladder symptoms while the stent is in, which settle once it is removed.

A stent is a temporary fix, not a cure: it does not by itself remove a stone or treat a tumour, and the underlying problem still needs dealing with. Success depends largely on treating that cause and on removing or changing the stent on time.

How long it lasts

Stents are designed to stay in for a limited time — often weeks to a few months for ordinary plastic stents, and longer only for specialist or metal stents that are changed at set intervals. Leaving a standard stent in beyond its planned time risks blockage, encrustation and kidney damage, so the timing of removal or change matters as much as the insertion itself.

Related tests, treatments or support

A stent is often combined with treatment of the underlying problem — for example, it may be placed before, during or after surgery to remove a kidney stone, or to relieve a blockage caused by a tumour while cancer treatment is planned. Sometimes a stent and a nephrostomy are used together to ensure the kidney drains.

Follow-up & long-term care

Follow-up centres on a planned removal or change of the stent, and on treating the cause of the blockage. You should be given a clear date and a way to contact the team. If you develop fever, severe pain or cannot pass urine, you should seek urgent help rather than wait for the next appointment.

Attend the booked removal or change appointment on time
Keep well hydrated while the stent is in, unless advised otherwise
Report recurrent infections, which may prompt an earlier change
For long-term stents, attend regular changes at the agreed interval
Keep a personal record of the date the stent was inserted

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

Stents are routinely removed or exchanged after a planned period rather than left indefinitely.
A poorly positioned or poorly tolerated stent may be repositioned, changed or removed early.
Long-term stents (for example for a tumour) are changed at set intervals, sometimes for life.
If a stent fails to drain, a nephrostomy may be added.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

A clearly booked removal or change date and a reliable reminder system
Written advice on normal stent symptoms and how to ease them
Clear emergency instructions for fever, severe pain or inability to pass urine
A named contact, available out of hours, for problems
A plan to treat the underlying cause of the blockage

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

Whether a general anaesthetic, sedation or local anaesthetic is used
The urologist's fee and the theatre or day-case facility fee
Imaging (X-ray screening) used during insertion and the type of stent
Whether insertion is part of a larger procedure, such as stone treatment
The cost of the later removal or change procedure
Treatment of any complication, such as infection

Make sure your written quote includes

The urologist and facility fees and what is included
Whether anaesthetic or sedation costs are included
The type of stent and any imaging used
The cost of the separate removal or change procedure
What is included if the underlying cause (such as a stone) also needs treating
The policy if a complication such as infection occurs

On the NHS? Ureteric stent insertion is a routine NHS procedure when a kidney is blocked or at risk; private care is used mainly for speed, choice or convenience, but the underlying cause still needs treating.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Choosing a specialist safely

Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

Why do I need a stent, and what is the plan to treat the blockage itself?
How long will the stent stay in, and what is my exact removal or change date?
What symptoms are normal, and which ones mean I should call urgently?
How will the stent be removed, and will I be awake?
What can I do to ease the bladder symptoms?
Who do I contact, day or night, if I develop a fever or severe pain?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the specialist who carries out my procedure, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this procedure not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

Will the stent hurt?

Putting it in is usually usually not painful because it is done under anaesthetic or with numbing gel. Living with a stent commonly causes bladder symptoms and a dragging or stinging feeling, especially when passing urine, which usually settle once it is removed.

How long can a stent stay in?

Ordinary plastic stents are usually left for weeks to a few months; specialist or metal stents stay longer but are changed at set intervals. Leaving a standard stent too long is dangerous, so the removal date matters.

Why is blood in my urine while I have a stent?

Some blood that comes and goes is common with a stent, often worse after activity. Drinking plenty of fluids helps. Heavy bleeding, large clots or being unable to pass urine need urgent advice.

How is a stent removed?

Usually quickly, often under local anaesthetic using a fine telescope passed into the bladder, or by gently pulling a string if one was left. You can normally go home straight afterwards.

Can I still work and exercise with a stent?

Many people carry on with normal life, though vigorous exercise can worsen symptoms and bleeding. Your team will advise based on why you have the stent.

What is a 'forgotten stent'?

It is a stent left in far longer than intended. This can cause blockage, stones and kidney damage. It is why you should know your removal or change date and keep the appointment.

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: BAUS — Insertion of a ureteric stent (patient information) BAUS — Telescopic insertion/removal of a ureteric stent (leaflet) NHS (United Lincolnshire Hospitals) — JJ Ureteric Stent NHS (Milton Keynes) — Ureteric stent: going home Stent length and position vs stent-related symptoms — PMC review Ureteral stent complications in 50,000 procedures — PMC

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.