{"id":2118,"date":"2020-12-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/?p=2118"},"modified":"2026-08-30T03:09:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T20:09:18","slug":"%e5%b0%bf%e7%ae%a1%e3%82%b9%e3%83%86%e3%83%b3%e3%83%88-%e9%95%b7%e6%89%80%e3%81%a8%e7%9f%ad%e6%89%80","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/ja\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/","title":{"rendered":"DJ\u30b9\u30c6\u30f3\u30c8 \/ \u5c3f\u7ba1\u30b9\u30c6\u30f3\u30c8\uff1a\u9069\u5fdc\u3001\u526f\u4f5c\u7528\u3001\u304a\u3088\u3073\u30b1\u30a2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns coblocks-author-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-52275889 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#8C8C971A;padding-top:2.5rem;padding-right:2.5rem;padding-bottom:2.5rem;padding-left:2.5rem\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-rounded\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" data-attachment-id=\"7037\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/ja\/new-photo-2024\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/New-Photo-2024.png?fit=800%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"800,800\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone \u2014 Board-Certified Urologist in Bangkok, Thailand\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone \u2014 Board-Certified Urologist in Bangkok, Thailand&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/New-Photo-2024.png?fit=800%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/New-Photo-2024.png?resize=800%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Best Urologist working in Chonburi and Cambodia\" class=\"wp-image-7037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/New-Photo-2024.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/New-Photo-2024.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/New-Photo-2024.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/New-Photo-2024.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 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class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ureteral stent is one of the most useful instruments in endoscopic urological surgery, and one of the least understood by the patients who receive it. The questions I am asked most often are simple ones: what exactly is this thing, is it dangerous, and why does it cause so many symptoms? This article answers them.<\/p>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n  \"mainEntity\": [\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"What is a ureteral stent (Double-J stent)?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"A ureteral stent, commonly called a Double-J (DJ) stent, is a small flexible tube about 25 cm long with a pigtail coil at each end shaped like the letter J. It was invented in 1976 and is placed inside the ureter to ensure urine flows freely from the kidney to the bladder whenever the ureter is obstructed or injured.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"When is a ureteral stent needed?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"A ureteral stent is indicated for severe kidney infection with blocked urine flow, severe kidney or ureteral injury from trauma, intolerable acute kidney stone pain, pre-stenting before ESWL (shockwave lithotripsy) for large stones, and ureteral swelling after endoscopic laser stone surgery.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"How long can a ureteral stent stay in the body?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"A ureteral stent is typically designed to remain in the urinary system for up to 3 months. The longer it stays, the higher the risk of encrustation, where calcium from urine builds up on the stent and can cause it to become like a stone itself. Early removal is always preferred.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"What are the side effects of having a ureteral stent?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"Up to 80% of patients experience stent-related discomfort. Common symptoms include incomplete bladder emptying (76%), urinary urgency (57\u201360%), urinary frequency (50\u201360%), irritation during urination (40%), suprapubic discomfort (30%), bloody urine (25%), and flank discomfort (19\u201332%).\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Will the discomfort from a ureteral stent go away?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"Yes. All stent-related symptoms, including urinary frequency, urgency, pain, and bloody urine, will disappear completely once the ureteral stent is removed. These symptoms are temporary and caused by the body's natural response to the foreign object.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Why does a ureteral stent cause urinary symptoms?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"The body recognizes the stent as a foreign object and naturally tries to expel it through ureteral contractions. Because the double pigtail design prevents the stent from being passed out, these repeated contractions cause irritation and discomfort in the bladder and urinary tract.\"\r\n      }\r\n    }\r\n  ]\r\n}\r\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" data-attachment-id=\"2128\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/ja\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/dj-stent\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?fit=700%2C700&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,700\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"DJ stent is internal-designed urologic instrument for securing ureteral tract. Ref: www.alibaba.com\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;DJ stent is internal-designed urologic instrument for securing ureteral tract. Ref: www.alibaba.com&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?fit=700%2C700&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?resize=700%2C700&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A double-J ureteral stent, a soft tube with a coiled pigtail at each end\" class=\"wp-image-2128\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?resize=12%2C12&amp;ssl=1 12w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DJ-stent.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The DJ stent sits entirely inside the body, holding the ureter open.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A ureteral stent, or \u201cDouble-J stent\u201d, is a soft tube with a coiled pigtail at each end. It was introduced in 1976 and transformed urological management. Its shape mirrors the anatomy of the ureter \u2014 about 25 cm long, with a diameter smaller than the ureteral lumen \u2014 and the two coils hold it in position, one in the kidney and one in the bladder, so it cannot migrate. With the stent in place, urine flows freely from kidney to bladder without pain, even when the ureter itself cannot do the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"571\" data-attachment-id=\"2129\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/ja\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/kidney-stones-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?fit=1200%2C857&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,857\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Doctors are advising the old kidney stones.\\nHe with pain. Vector cartoon illustration&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1512818860&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Kidney Stones&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"One of the most common indication of DJ stent is Post-endoscopic stone surgery.\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;One of the most common indication of DJ stent is Post-endoscopic stone surgery.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?fit=800%2C571&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?resize=800%2C571&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Kidney stones, the commonest reason a ureteral stent is required\" class=\"wp-image-2129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?resize=1024%2C731&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?resize=768%2C548&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kidney-stone.jpg?resize=16%2C12&amp;ssl=1 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stone surgery is the commonest reason a DJ stent is placed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When a ureteral stent is indicated<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Severe kidney infection where urine drainage is obstructed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Severe kidney or ureteral injury following an accident.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acute stone pain that cannot be controlled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pre-stenting before ESWL for a large kidney stone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ureteral swelling after endoscopic laser surgery.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long a stent can stay in<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A standard stent is designed to remain in the urinary system for up to 3 months. The sooner it comes out, the lower the risk of encrustation \u2014 calcium deposits from the urine building up on the stent surface, which makes removal considerably more difficult. This is why the removal appointment matters and should not be postponed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The forgotten stent: the one complication worth being frightened of<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything else in this article is about discomfort. This section is about harm, and it is the reason I would rather a patient remembered one thing from the whole page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A stent left in far beyond its intended life is called a <strong>forgotten stent<\/strong>, and it is not a rare curiosity \u2014 it happens to people who felt fine, moved house, changed hospitals, lost a phone number, or were simply never told there was a deadline. Over months to years the stent encrusts, stone forms along it and inside the coils, and it can block the very system it was placed to drain. What began as a five-minute outpatient removal can become several operations, and in the worst cases the kidney on that side is damaged beyond recovery or lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The protection against it is entirely administrative, which is why it is worth doing properly rather than trusting memory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Before you leave hospital, write down the date the stent was placed and the date it is due out<\/strong>, and put the removal date in your phone as a reminder rather than relying on a card in a drawer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Feeling well is not evidence the stent can stay.<\/strong> Some people have almost no symptoms, and those are precisely the patients who forget.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you are already past the date, do not wait and do not feel embarrassed.<\/strong> Contact a urology department now. It is a far smaller problem this month than next year, and no urologist will think less of you for it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If your stent has a string left outside, do not pull it yourself<\/strong>, and take care with it when showering or using the toilet. It is there so that removal can be done without a cystoscope, at a time your urologist decides.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the stent causes symptoms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19955667\/\">Stent-related symptoms<\/a> affect up to 80% of patients, so if you are uncomfortable, you are in the majority rather than the exception. Reported frequencies are: incomplete emptying (76%), urinary urgency (57\u201360%), urinary frequency (50\u201360%), irritation on urination (40%), suprapubic discomfort (30%), flank discomfort (19\u201332%), and blood in the urine (25%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"550\" data-attachment-id=\"2130\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/ja\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/speaking-with-patient\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?fit=1200%2C825&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,825\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Confident doctor looking at his senior patient while speaking to her&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1366298940&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;85&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Speaking with patient&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Good news is, all stent-related symptom will be vanished once we remove it.\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Good news is, all stent-related symptom will be vanished once we remove it.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?fit=800%2C550&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?resize=800%2C550&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A urologist reassuring a patient during a consultation about stent symptoms\" class=\"wp-image-2130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?resize=300%2C206&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?resize=1024%2C704&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?resize=768%2C528&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Doctor-patient-relationship.jpg?resize=16%2C12&amp;ssl=1 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stent symptoms settle once the stent is removed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that these symptoms are temporary. For the great majority of patients they settle within days of the stent coming out, because they are caused by the stent itself rather than by damage to the urinary tract. A minority notice some irritation for a little longer, particularly after a difficult stone or a long stenting period, and that is worth mentioning at follow-up rather than assuming something has gone wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blood in the urine is expected and typically comes and goes, often more noticeable after a day on your feet or after exercise. Keeping well hydrated helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can medication make the stent easier to live with?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Often, yes. It helps to know the order things are usually tried in, because patients sometimes arrive asking for two tablets when one is the right place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Step one is an alpha-blocker.<\/strong> This is a tablet that relaxes muscle around the bladder outlet, and it is the treatment European guidelines specifically recommend for stent symptoms \u2014 a strong recommendation, not a suggestion <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jcph.2314\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(Bellos et al., 2023)<\/a>. Most people start on one of these and need nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Step two, if the urgency is still hard to live with, is adding a bladder-relaxant tablet on top.<\/strong> There is decent trial evidence for this pairing: a randomised study of 158 patients found the two together beat either alone across the standard stent symptom questionnaire <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00345-025-05695-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(Hanna et al., 2025)<\/a>, and a large analysis pooling 26 trials ranked combinations at the top for most symptom groups <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/JU.0000000000003616\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(Hinojosa-Gonzalez et al., 2023)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What that evidence does <em>not<\/em> do is make two tablets the normal starting point, and I want to be straight about that because it is easy to read a headline finding and assume otherwise. The guideline recommendation attaches to the alpha-blocker on its own. The pooled ranking is built largely on indirect comparisons, and its own authors say it needs head-to-head trials to confirm. Several individual studies have found combination no better than a single drug. So: one tablet first, a second added if the first is not enough \u2014 a sensible ladder rather than a race to the top of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two things are worth knowing before a bladder-relaxant is added, particularly for an older man, because they are the reason your urologist may hesitate where you would not expect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It can make it harder to empty the bladder.<\/strong> These tablets work by damping down the bladder&#8217;s squeeze, so in someone who already empties incompletely they can occasionally tip things over into being unable to pass urine at all. The absolute risk is small, but it is the reason a quick bladder scan to see how much urine is left behind is worth doing first \u2014 and the reason the bladder relaxant is given <em>alongside<\/em> the alpha-blocker rather than instead of it, since the alpha-blocker offsets much of that risk <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/14651858.CD012336.pub2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(Cochrane review, 2021)<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They can add to fogginess or confusion in older people.<\/strong> This is a real effect of the drug class and it builds up with long-term use and with every other medicine that acts the same way. The reassuring part is that a stent is a short-term situation: a specialist review found short courses of the modern drugs of this type are likely to be fine for most people, with frail or already forgetful patients, and those on many medicines, the group to be careful with <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/nau.25037\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(SUFU white paper, 2022)<\/a>. Keep the course short, and tell your doctor everything else you take.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever the plan, do not start, stop or change any of this on your own \u2014 ask the team who placed the stent. And if you are simply uncomfortable and nobody has offered you anything, that is worth raising rather than enduring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to be seen the same day<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The symptoms above are expected. The following are not, and with a stent in place they can mean infection in an obstructed kidney, which becomes dangerous quickly. <strong>Go to an emergency department the same day \u2014 in Thailand you can call 1669:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fever or shaking chills<\/strong>, with or without flank pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pain that is worsening rather than settling<\/strong>, or that painkillers no longer control<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inability to pass urine<\/strong>, or heavy bleeding with clots<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Feeling confused, faint, or unwell out of proportion to the pain<\/strong> \u2014 in an older patient this can be the first sign of a serious infection, before any fever appears<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vomiting so persistent that you cannot keep fluids down<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell whoever assesses you that you have a ureteral stent in place, and on which side. It changes how the problem is investigated and treated, and it is easily missed if nobody says it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q1: What is a ureteral (DJ) stent and why is it inserted?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A ureteral stent, commonly called a Double-J (DJ) stent, is a thin flexible tube placed inside the ureter to maintain urine flow from the kidney to the bladder. It is inserted when urine drainage is blocked or impaired due to kidney stones, ureteral injury, post-operative swelling after stone surgery, or severe kidney infections. The double pigtail design prevents the stent from migrating out of position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q2: How long can a ureteral stent stay in place?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A standard ureteral stent is designed to remain safely in the urinary system for up to 3 months. Leaving a stent in longer than recommended increases the risk of encrustation, where calcium deposits from urine build up on the stent surface, making removal more difficult. Your urologist will schedule stent removal as soon as it is no longer medically necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q3: What happens if a stent is left in and forgotten?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the complication that matters most. A stent left far beyond its intended life encrusts with mineral deposits, stone forms along it and within its coils, and it can obstruct the kidney it was placed to drain. Removal may then require several procedures rather than one simple outpatient visit, and in severe cases the kidney on that side can be permanently damaged or lost. Feeling well is not evidence that the stent can stay, because some people have almost no symptoms. Record the removal date when the stent is placed. If you are already past that date, contact a urology department now rather than waiting \u2014 it is a much smaller problem dealt with early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q4: Why do I have so many urinary symptoms with a ureteral stent?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stent-related discomfort is very common, affecting up to 80% of patients. The body recognizes the stent as a foreign object and the ureter naturally tries to contract and expel it. This causes symptoms including urinary frequency, urgency, flank discomfort, and blood in the urine. These symptoms are expected and are not a sign of a serious complication, and for the great majority of patients they settle within days of removal. Fever, worsening pain, inability to pass urine, or feeling generally unwell are different and need same-day assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q5: What medication helps with stent symptoms?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The usual first step is an alpha-blocker, a tablet that relaxes muscle around the bladder outlet. European guidelines recommend this class specifically for stent symptoms, and for most people it is all that is needed. If urgency remains hard to live with, a bladder-relaxant tablet can be added alongside it, and good trials support that combination as a second step. It is not, however, the routine starting point: the guideline recommendation is for the alpha-blocker alone, and evidence that two tablets beat one is mixed. Before adding a bladder relaxant, particularly in an older man, your doctor may check how well the bladder empties, since these tablets can occasionally make it harder to pass urine, and will want to keep the course short because the drug class can add to confusion in older people over time. Never start, stop or adjust any of this yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q6: Can I go about normal daily activities with a ureteral stent?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most patients can continue light daily activities with a ureteral stent in place. However, strenuous physical activity, heavy lifting, and intense exercise may worsen stent-related discomfort and make blood in the urine more noticeable. If your stent has a string left outside the body, do not pull it and take care with it when showering or using the toilet. Always follow your urologist\u2019s specific activity recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q7: How is a ureteral stent removed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A ureteral stent is typically removed using a flexible cystoscope inserted through the urethra under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting. Some stents have a retrieval string attached that extends through the urethra, allowing removal without a cystoscope. Stent removal is generally quick and straightforward, with symptoms settling rapidly afterward. A heavily encrusted stent is the exception and may need a more involved procedure, which is the practical reason removal is not left late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q8: Can I discuss a stent by video consultation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, for planning and for questions. Bangkok Hospital Headquarters offers a Telemedicine service, arranged in advance by email to the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th, and it is a practical way to review previous imaging and operation notes and to arrange a removal date \u2014 particularly for patients who had the stent placed abroad or in another city. Removal itself is a procedure and must be done in person. Samitivej Sriracha is in-person only, booked through the Urology department line 088-022-1445. If you have fever, uncontrolled pain, or cannot pass urine, do not wait for a video appointment \u2014 go to an emergency department the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have questions about your ureteral stent, or you are not sure when yours is due to come out, Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone offers specialist consultations at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bangkokhospital.com\/en\/bangkok\/doctor\/dr-soarawee-weerasopone-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Book a Consultation<\/a>. Appointments at Samitivej Sriracha Hospital can be arranged by calling the Urology department on <a href=\"tel:0880221445\">088-022-1445<\/a>. Questions about the cost of consultation, removal or surgery should go to the hospital directly \u2014 for Bangkok Hospital, by email to <a href=\"mailto:bhquro@bdms.co.th\">bhquro@bdms.co.th<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Joshi HB et al. Ureteral stent symptom questionnaire and stent-related morbidity. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19955667\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PubMed 19955667<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bellos TC et al. Ureteral stent-related symptoms and pharmacotherapy: a brief narrative review. <em>J Clin Pharmacol<\/em>. 2023. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jcph.2314\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doi:10.1002\/jcph.2314<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hinojosa-Gonzalez DE, Segall MR, Eisner BH. Pharmacological management of ureteral stent-related symptoms: systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. <em>J Urol<\/em>. 2023. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/JU.0000000000003616\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doi:10.1097\/JU.0000000000003616<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hanna P et al. Tamsulosin, solifenacin and their combination for lower urinary tract symptoms in ureteric stent patients: a randomised study. <em>World J Urol<\/em>. 2025. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00345-025-05695-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doi:10.1007\/s00345-025-05695-1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pang R et al. Anticholinergics combined with alpha-blockers for lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic obstruction. <em>Cochrane Database Syst Rev<\/em>. 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/14651858.CD012336.pub2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doi:10.1002\/14651858.CD012336.pub2<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zillioux J et al. SUFU white paper on overactive bladder anticholinergic medications and dementia risk. <em>Neurourol Urodyn<\/em>. 2022. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/nau.25037\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doi:10.1002\/nau.25037<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> This content is written and reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, a board-certified urologist at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. It is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, and it cannot account for the reason your own stent was placed or how long it is meant to stay. Medication decisions depend on your own kidney function, other medicines and bladder emptying, and must be made by the doctor looking after you. No medical advice, diagnosis or prescription is provided through personal messaging channels or social media. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any medical treatment. In an emergency, attend the nearest emergency department \u2014 in Thailand the emergency number is 1669.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"MedicalWebPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/#webpage\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/\",\n      \"name\": \"DJ Stent \/ Ureteral Stent: Indications, Side Effects, and Care\",\n      \"description\": \"What a Double-J ureteral stent is and why it is placed, the three-month limit and the risk of encrustation, the forgotten stent and why it can cost a kidney, the stent-related symptoms that affect up to 80% of patients, which medications help and in what order, and the signs that need same-day emergency assessment.\",\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\n      \"datePublished\": \"2020-12-25\",\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-30\",\n      \"lastReviewed\": \"2026-08-30\",\n      \"specialty\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Urologic\",\n      \"medicalAudience\": { \"@type\": \"MedicalAudience\", \"audienceType\": \"Patient\" },\n      \"isPartOf\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/#website\" },\n      \"author\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/#physician\" },\n      \"reviewedBy\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/#physician\" },\n      \"publisher\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/#physician\" },\n      \"citation\": [\n        {\"@type\": \"CreativeWork\", \"name\": \"Ureteral stent-related symptoms and pharmacotherapy: a brief narrative review\", \"identifier\": \"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jcph.2314\"},\n        {\"@type\": \"CreativeWork\", \"name\": \"Pharmacological management of ureteral stent-related symptoms: systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis\", \"identifier\": \"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/JU.0000000000003616\"},\n        {\"@type\": \"CreativeWork\", \"name\": \"Tamsulosin, solifenacin and their combination in ureteric stent patients: a randomised study\", \"identifier\": \"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00345-025-05695-1\"},\n        {\"@type\": \"CreativeWork\", \"name\": \"Anticholinergics combined with alpha-blockers for LUTS related to benign prostatic obstruction (Cochrane)\", \"identifier\": \"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/14651858.CD012336.pub2\"},\n        {\"@type\": \"CreativeWork\", \"name\": \"SUFU white paper on overactive bladder anticholinergic medications and dementia risk\", \"identifier\": \"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/nau.25037\"}\n      ],\n      \"about\": {\n        \"@type\": \"MedicalCondition\",\n        \"name\": \"Ureteral obstruction\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"MedicalProcedure\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/#dj-stent\",\n      \"name\": \"Ureteral stent (Double-J stent) insertion\",\n      \"bodyLocation\": \"Ureter\",\n      \"howPerformed\": \"A soft tube approximately 25 cm long with a coiled pigtail at each end is passed endoscopically into the ureter, one coil sitting in the kidney and the other in the bladder so that it cannot migrate. 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European Association of Urology guidance carries a strong recommendation for alpha-blockers for stent-related symptoms, with alfuzosin having the most consistent benefit for urinary symptoms. Monotherapy is sufficient for most patients.\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"MedicalTherapy\",\n          \"name\": \"Addition of an antimuscarinic (bladder-relaxant) to an alpha-blocker\",\n          \"description\": \"A step-up option for persistent storage symptoms, not routine first-line therapy. Neither EAU nor AUA endorses combination as the initial regimen; the guideline recommendation attaches to the alpha-blocker. Randomised evidence supports the combination as a second step, and a Bayesian network meta-analysis ranked combinations highest across most symptom domains, but that ranking rests largely on indirect comparison and its authors call for confirmatory head-to-head trials, while several individual trials found no advantage over monotherapy.\",\n          \"contraindication\": {\n            \"@type\": \"MedicalContraindication\",\n            \"description\": \"Caution where bladder emptying is incomplete: antimuscarinics inhibit detrusor contraction and can precipitate acute urinary retention, so a post-void residual check before starting is prudent and co-administration with the alpha-blocker mitigates the risk. Avoid in narrow-angle glaucoma. In older men, anticholinergic burden contributes to confusion and delirium and, with long-term use, to dementia risk; short courses of modern agents are judged likely cognitively safe for most patients, which suits the short dwell time of a stent, but frailty, existing cognitive impairment and high polypharmacy warrant caution. Keep the course short and review concurrent anticholinergic medicines.\"\n          }\n        }\n      ],\n      \"followup\": \"A standard stent is designed to stay in place for up to three months; earlier removal reduces the risk of encrustation. The removal date should be recorded by the patient at the time of insertion, because absence of symptoms is not evidence that the stent can safely remain. Removal is usually performed with a flexible cystoscope under local anaesthesia as an outpatient; some stents carry a retrieval string, which the patient must not pull. Stent-related symptoms affect up to 80% of patients and settle within days of removal in the great majority. Fever or rigors, worsening pain, inability to pass urine, heavy bleeding with clots, confusion or feeling systemically unwell require same-day emergency department assessment; in Thailand the emergency number is 1669.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/#faq\",\n      \"isPartOf\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drsoaraweeurology.com\/2020\/12\/25\/ureteral-stent-pros-and-cons\/#webpage\" },\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is a ureteral (DJ) stent and why is it inserted?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A ureteral stent, or Double-J stent, is a thin flexible tube placed inside the ureter to maintain urine flow from the kidney to the bladder. It is inserted when drainage is blocked or impaired by kidney stones, ureteral injury, post-operative swelling after stone surgery, or severe kidney infection. The double pigtail design prevents it from migrating out of position.\"}},\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How long can a ureteral stent stay in place?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A standard stent is designed to remain safely in the urinary system for up to 3 months. Leaving it longer increases the risk of encrustation, where calcium deposits build up on the stent surface and make removal more difficult. Removal is scheduled as soon as the stent is no longer medically necessary.\"}},\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What happens if a stent is left in and forgotten?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"This is the complication that matters most. A stent left far beyond its intended life encrusts with mineral deposits, stone forms along it and within its coils, and it can obstruct the kidney it was placed to drain. Removal may then require several procedures rather than one simple outpatient visit, and in severe cases the kidney on that side can be permanently damaged or lost. Feeling well is not evidence that the stent can stay, because some people have almost no symptoms. Record the removal date when the stent is placed, and if you are already past that date, contact a urology department now rather than waiting.\"}},\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Why do I have so many urinary symptoms with a ureteral stent?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Stent-related discomfort affects up to 80% of patients. The body treats the stent as a foreign object and the ureter contracts against it, causing urinary frequency, urgency, flank discomfort and blood in the urine. These symptoms are expected rather than a sign of serious complication, and for the great majority they settle within days of removal. Fever, worsening pain, inability to pass urine or feeling generally unwell are different and need same-day assessment.\"}},\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What medication helps with stent symptoms?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The usual first step is an alpha-blocker, a tablet that relaxes muscle around the bladder outlet. European guidelines recommend this class specifically for stent symptoms, and for most people it is all that is needed. If urgency remains hard to live with, a bladder-relaxant tablet can be added alongside it, and randomised trials support that combination as a second step. It is not the routine starting point: the guideline recommendation is for the alpha-blocker alone, and evidence that two tablets beat one is mixed. Before adding a bladder relaxant, particularly in an older man, the doctor may check how well the bladder empties, since these tablets can occasionally make it harder to pass urine, and will want to keep the course short because the drug class can add to confusion in older people over time. Patients should never start, stop or adjust these medicines themselves.\"}},\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can I go about normal daily activities with a ureteral stent?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Most patients can continue light daily activities. Strenuous activity, heavy lifting and intense exercise may worsen stent discomfort and make blood in the urine more noticeable. If the stent has a string left outside the body, do not pull it. Follow your urologist's specific activity advice.\"}},\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How is a ureteral stent removed?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Removal is usually done with a flexible cystoscope passed through the urethra under local anaesthesia as an outpatient. Some stents have a retrieval string that allows removal without a cystoscope. The procedure is quick and stent-related symptoms settle rapidly afterwards. A heavily encrusted stent is the exception and may need a more involved procedure, which is the practical reason removal is not left late.\"}},\n        {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can I discuss a stent by video consultation?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes, for planning and for questions. Bangkok Hospital Headquarters offers a Telemedicine service, arranged in advance by email to the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th, and it is a practical way to review previous imaging and operation notes and to arrange a removal date, particularly for patients who had the stent placed abroad or in another city. Removal itself is a procedure and must be done in person. Samitivej Sriracha is in-person only, booked through the Urology department line 088-022-1445. Fever, uncontrolled pain or inability to pass urine should not wait for a video appointment and need same-day emergency assessment.\"}}\n      ]\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A DJ stent keeps urine flowing when the ureter cannot do it alone \u2014 and up to 80% of patients feel it. Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, urologist at Bangkok Hospital, explains why the stent is placed, how long it can stay, which symptoms are expected, and which ones are not.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":185281453,"featured_media":10110,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"Ureteral (DJ) stent explained: why it is placed, the 3-month limit, the forgotten stent and why it can cost a kidney, the symptoms up to 80% of patients feel, and what needs same-day emergency care. 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