Please have any pathology or radiology tests competed if requested during your appointment. Take your normal medications unless told otherwise by Dr Murray or the anaesthetist. Please notify Dr Murray if you are taking any blood thinners. The procedure requires a general or spinal anaesthetic therefore you will need to fast for six hours prior to the procedure. Please ensure someone has been arranged to drive you home as you cannot drive following the anaesthetic.
After administration of the anaesthetic a rigid cystoscopy is performed and a guidewire inserted up to the kidney under x-ray guidance. The ureteric stent is then advanced over this wire, past the obstruction until the top end is within the kidney. The guidewire is then withdrawn from the ureteric stent allowing the coils to form and leaving the stent in place.
A short period of time is required in the recovery room while the anaesthetic wears off. You are likely to experience discomfort or pain in the flank and in the lower abdomen, pain medication will be given by the nursing staff.
The ureteric stent irritates the bladder. Pain, discomfort and a sensation of needing to urinate often occurs. Expect to see blood in the urine and experience a burning sensation when voiding for as long as the stent is in. The severity of these symptoms are highly variable between patients and can not be reliably predicted prior to the procedure. Severe pain and discomfort occasionally occurs and may inhibit your ability to work. Unfortunately, the ureteric stent is an essential part of this procedure and is required to stay in for one to two weeks while the ureteric swelling settles.
Dr Murray will see you prior to discharge to discuss the findings, make arrangements for any additional procedures and to confirm follow up.
Removal of ureteric stent:
The ureteric stent is removed by passing a small flexible telescope (flexible cystoscopy) in to the bladder via the urethra. The stent is grasped with an instrument and withdrawn from the bladder. This procedure is done under intravenous sedation for your comfort. It requires admission to hospital as a day surgery case and attracts an additional fee.
Thankfully serious complications following a ureteric stent insertion are rare. Risks and complications include but are not limited to:
1. Haematuria (blood in the urine)
2. Dysuria (stinging sensation when voiding)
3. Urinary urge and frequency (from the ureteric stent)
4. Pain in the flank
5. Urinary tract infection
6. Failure to relieve obstruction (extra procedures required)
7. Stent encrustation (stone forming on stent making removal difficult)
