What Happens if a Kidney Stent is Not Taken Out?

A ureteral stent (or kidney stent) is a thin, flexible tube placed inside the ureter to help urine drain effectively from the kidney directly into the bladder. These temporary devices are commonly used after procedures like kidney stone laser surgery, ureteroscopy, or stricture treatment to prevent blockages, relieve swelling, and aid internal healing.

However, a kidney stent is never meant to remain inside your body permanently. Leaving a stent in place past its intended date—known as a "forgotten stent"—can lead to serious, life-threatening complications.

In this article, we will explore why kidney stents are placed, the severe risks of an overdue stent, signs that signal it is time for removal, and how the retrieval procedure works.

What Is the Purpose of a Kidney Stent?

Before examining the risks of delayed removal, it helps to understand what a stent achieves while it is inside the body:

• Prevents Ureteral Obstruction: It holds the ureter open so urine can drain freely, preventing severe pressure build-up and kidney swelling (hydronephrosis).
• Promotes Post-Surgical Healing: After surgical procedures like FANS RIRS, the stent allows delicate tissues inside the ureter to heal smoothly without developing narrow scar tissue (strictures).
• Aids Stone Fragment Passage: It expands the pathway to help small, remaining stone dust or fragments pass safely out of the body without getting wedged.

While stents improve recovery outcomes, they are temporary medical devices that must be retrieved or replaced within a strict timeframe.

Side Effects and Risks of an Overdue Kidney Stent

When a stent is left inside the body beyond its recommended schedule, it begins to degrade and cause significant damage to the urinary system. Major risks include:

1. High Risk of Severe Infections

An indwelling stent acts as a surface for bacteria to colonize, significantly increasing the likelihood of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). If left untreated, these infections can travel up into the kidney tissue (pyelonephritis) or enter the bloodstream, causing severe sepsis.

2. Stent Encrustation and Stone Formation

The longer a stent remains in urine, the more minerals (like calcium and uric acid) begin to crystallize over its surface. Over time, the stent becomes heavily encrusted with hard new stones. This leads to:

• Complete blockage of urine flow.
• Extreme pain during extraction attempts.
• The need for complex, multi-stage surgeries to break the new stones off the stent before it can be taken out.

3. Ureteral Damage and Scarring

Unsupervised prolonged usage causes chronic inflammation and friction along the delicate inner lining of the ureter. This can lead to permanent scarring and narrowing (strictures), which may eventually require balloon dilation, laser repair, or reconstructive surgery.

4. Chronic Pain and Discomfort

While mild discomfort is normal while wearing a stent, an overdue stent often causes severe, debilitating pain, including:

• Sharp flank and lower back pain.
• Intense bladder irritation and cramping.
• Severe burning during urination (dysuria).

5. Stent Migration and Breakage

Over time, the synthetic material of the stent weakens and breaks down. The stent may fragment into multiple pieces or migrate out of position into the kidney or bladder, making retrieval significantly more difficult and requiring invasive open or endoscopic surgery.

6. Permanent Impairment of Kidney Function

A blocked, heavily encrusted, or infected stent causes continuous urine backup into the kidney. Chronic pressure and recurrent tissue damage will reduce kidney function over time, potentially leading to irreversible kidney damage or failure.

How Long Can a Kidney Stent Stay in Place?

The safe duration for a stent depends on its specific design and the condition being treated:

• Post-Kidney Stone Removal: Temporary stents typically remain in place for 1 to 2 weeks, while standard stents last around 4 to 6 weeks.
• Long-Term/Chronic Stents: Specialized long-term stents (often made with reinforced materials) can remain in place for up to 3 months before needing to be replaced or removed.

Important Note: Always confirm your exact stent removal date with your doctor before leaving the hospital. Never miss your scheduled appointment.

Signs That Your Stent Needs Immediate Attention

Contact your urologist immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms while wearing a stent:

• Severe, sharp pain in the back, side, or bladder area that does not respond to medication.
• Persistent, heavy blood in the urine (hematuria).
• Fever, chills, or foul-smelling urine (signs of an active infection).
• Inability to urinate or a significant decrease in urine output.
• Recurrent, painful urge to urinate.

What Is the Procedure for Removing a Kidney Stent?

For standard, non-encrusted stents, removal is a quick, routine outpatient procedure:

• Duration: The entire process takes only 5 to 10 minutes.
• Anesthesia: A local anesthetic numbing gel is applied to the urethra to ensure maximum comfort.
• Technique: A flexible scope (cystoscope) is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. The doctor locates the end of the stent, grasps it with tiny instruments, and gently slides it out.
• Recovery: Recovery is immediate. Patients can typically return home and resume normal daily activities the same day.

Note: If a stent has been left in too long and suffers from severe encrustation or breakage, advanced surgical techniques (such as laser fragmentation) will be required to safely free and remove the stent.

Expert Care with Dr. Deepanshu Gupta

Timely stent management and removal are essential for protecting your long-term kidney health. If you are experiencing stent discomfort, dealing with a complex stone case, or need guidance on follow-up care, receiving expert urological attention is vital.

Dr. Deepanshu Gupta is an experienced urologist in Gurgaon renowned for his expertise in advanced kidney stone management, including how to avoid kidney stone recurrence, endoscopic stent retrievals, laser stone surgery, and RIRS.

Do not risk complications from a delayed stent removal. Book a consultation with Cure Stone today to ensure your recovery is safe, comfortable, and completely stress-free.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is kidney stent removal painful?

Standard stent removal is not painful. Local numbing gel is applied directly to the urethra before the procedure to minimize discomfort. Patients usually feel only a brief tugging or pulling sensation as the stent slides out.

What happens if a kidney stent breaks inside the body?

If an overdue stent breaks due to material degradation, a urologist will need to use endourological techniques (such as ureteroscopy or laser fragmentation) to locate and retrieve all the broken pieces from the bladder or kidney.

Is it normal to have blood in urine after stent removal?

Yes, it is common to notice a pinkish tint or slight blood in your urine for 24 to 48 hours after removal due to minor irritation of the urinary lining. Drinking plenty of fluids will help flush out your system quickly.

Can a stent be removed without surgery?

Yes. In most cases, stent removal is a simple, non-surgical outpatient clinic procedure that takes under 10 minutes using a flexible cystoscope under local anesthesia.