A ureteral stent, or a kidney stent, is a type of flexible tube that is placed within a patient’s ureter so as to help the urine drain effectively from the kidney right into the bladder. These stents are often used after procedures like kidney stone removal (RIRS, URS, or PCNL), ureteral stricture treatment, or kidney transplant surgeries to prevent blockages and aid healing.
In any case, a kidney stent is not something that is meant to be inside the body for an indefinite period of time. Such conditions can yield extremely harmful results. In this article, we will focus on what happens if a kidney stent is not taken out on time, how a overdue stent poses risks, possible symptoms, and why it is very important to remove them on time to keep your kidneys healthy.
What is the Purpose of a Kidney Stent?
Before looking at the risks involved with not removing one, we must first see what we want to achieve with it:
- To prevent ureteral obstruction– Stents are used to support ureter patency and facilitate urine drainage, particularly after procedures for stone extraction.
- To assist in healing: after surgical procedures, a stent enables the ureter to heal without contracted scar tissue or stenosis.
To aid in the movement of stonepieces, a stent is used to make sure there are no blockages in instance when parts of a stone remainfrequently Such fragments produce further problems by hindering the proper flow of urine and create the need to get them further supra-pubically or surgically removed.
Stents improve the efficiency of recovering after undergoing a surgical procedure while ensuring the renal system works effectively And having a stent placed does come with its own set of complications and it is crucial that they are changed or discarded within the stipulated time.
What are the effects of a kidney stent not being removed in a timely manner?
Here are the side effects of a kidney stent not being removed in a timely manner :-
1. Higher Infection Risk
The requirement for the utmost care and hygiene is crucial with indwelling ureteral stenting devices due to the high probability of urinary tract infections. Such infections can be diagnosed with the following symptoms:
- Painful urination
- Increased urination
- Foul smelling or cloudy urine
- Fever and chills in dire situations
Without intervention, the infection can catalyze into infections already existing in the kidney such as Pyelonephritis, causing dreadful repercussions.
2. Stent Encrustation and Stone Formation
Failure to remove a kidney stent can have severe repercussions such as encrustation – which is the accumulation of minerals like calcium and uric acid, resulting in the formation of stones around the stent. Stenosis can in the long run cause:
– Stagnation of urine
– Increased pain during the extraction of the stent
– Require a more complex procedure to correct
The longer a stent is placed in situ, the chances of severe encrustation increases, making removal slightly more painstaking.
3. Ureteral Damage and Scarring
The insertion of a stent is meant to treat a problem but unsupervised usage can result in sore inflammation to the skin covering the inner surface of the ureter. In more serious instances, it can lead to ureteral strictures which in the long run could impair the flow of urine.
The additional procedures may be needed for Strictures, such as balloon dilatation, laser therapy, or even surgical reconstruction of the ureters.
4. Chronic Pain and Discomfort
Although everyone has a different way of reacting to pain, patients who have kidney stents beyond their waiting period frequently tend to live with unbearable:
– Flank Pain
– Bladder Iritation
– Dysuria
– Abdominal Cramps
These symptoms grow worse with time and can be found unbearable.
5. The Issues of Stent Migration and Breakage
A kidney stent can deteriorate inside the ureter or move from its original position if it is left in place for too long. A broken stent can be extremely hard to retrieve and can result in one or more surgeries.
6. Impairment of kidney function
Blocked stents, on the other hand, can cause recurrent infections as well as ureteral strictures, which may damage the kidney over time. This can result in reduced kidney efficiency which may progress towards chronic kidney disease or kidney failure if not treated on time.
How Long Can a Kidney Stent Stay In Place?
The functional duration of a kidney stent within a person body relies on the nature of its insertion. In most situations:-
Post Kidney Stone Removal: Temporary stents last up to 1-2 weeks while standard stents last around 4-6 weeks.
Chronic Kidney issues result in long-term stents that can last for up to 3 months.
Leaving a stent for too long is extremely dangerous and can pose serious threats or complications. In such case, medical attention is required immediately.
Signs That Your Stent May Need Removal
Here is a list of symptoms that could mean it is time to remove your stent:-
- Sharp pains in the bladder or kidney region.
- Blood in urine that doesn’t heal.
- Difficultly with or pain while trying to urinate.
- Multiple urinary tract infections.
- Signs of infections including chills or fever.
- Trouble urinating or less urine than normal.
It is important to constantly be in touch with your urologist as you can run the risk of serious complications if the symptoms above are left unattended.
What Is The Procedure For Removing A Kidney Stent?
Stent removal is a quick and easy procedure with a cystoscope which is a thin tube with a camera that is flexible. It is inserted through the urethra.
- Recovery: Minimal, immediate
- Pain Num: Not usually required but some mild numbing gel is applied.
- Procedure Length: 5 – 10 minutes
You might need more advanced techniques such as laser fragmentation or ureteroscopic removal if the stent has severe encrustation or if it has migrated.
Kidney Stone Specialist Dr. Deepanshu Gupta
Kidney stent removal is an important procedure when the patient has stunts in order to prevent complications. If you are having any of these issues such as kidney stones, urinary obstructions, or discomfort from the stent, thorough expert care is highly advised.
Dr. Deepanshu Gupta is an experienced urologist from Gurgaon known for his complete management of kidney stones, ureteroscopy (URS), laser stone surgery, and other advanced procedures. He treats his patients with great detail and diligence while ensuring the procedure is both effective and comfortable.
If you or any of your family members require specialized care in urology, don’t hesitate to Speak to Dr. Deepanshu Gupta regarding the best treatment options available for kidney stones. Your kidneys are in safe hands!