Ureteral Stent Placement (Double J) — what you should know in 2026
A clear guide to double J stents: why they are used, how they are fitted and removed, what they feel like day to day, and what it costs.
Written by our medical board, reviewed quarterlyUpdated 21 January 19707 min read
What a double J stent is and who it's for
A ureteral stent is a soft, hollow plastic tube placed inside the ureter, the narrow channel that carries urine from the kidney down to the bladder. It is usually called a double J or JJ stent because both ends curl into a J shape: one coil sits in the kidney, the other in the bladder, and the curls stop it migrating up or down. Urine drains through and around the tube.
It is fitted whenever the ureter is blocked or at risk of blocking. The commonest reason is a kidney stone that is obstructing the kidney or causing infection. Stents are also placed after ureteroscopy or stone surgery to keep a swollen ureter open, around some kidney and pelvic operations to protect the ureter, and to relieve blockage caused by a tumour, scarring or narrowing.
A stent is a drainage solution, not a cure. It relieves the obstruction and protects the kidney while the underlying problem is treated. Almost every stent is temporary, and the plan for taking it out should be agreed at the same time it goes in.
How the procedure works in practice
Placement is usually done under general anaesthetic or spinal anaesthetic and takes around fifteen to thirty minutes. The surgeon passes a cystoscope through the urethra into the bladder, finds the opening of the ureter, and threads a guidewire up towards the kidney. The stent is slid over the wire under X-ray guidance and the wire is withdrawn, leaving the two curls in place. There are no cuts and no external wound.
If the kidney is severely infected and obstructed, the team may instead place a nephrostomy tube, a small drain through the skin into the kidney, because it drains more reliably in that situation. Your surgeon should explain which route they are choosing and why.
Most stent placements are day cases and you go home the same day once you have passed urine. If the stent was placed as an emergency for an infected, obstructed kidney, you will normally stay in hospital for intravenous antibiotics until you are stable.
What it costs and what is included
Cost depends on why the stent is being placed. As a standalone emergency procedure it is relatively inexpensive; more often it is a component of a larger episode of care such as ureteroscopy with laser stone treatment, and it should be itemised within that quote.
A clear quote should state the anaesthetic, theatre and surgeon fees, the imaging used, the stent itself, the hospital stay if any, and, importantly, the removal. Removal is a separate procedure and patients are sometimes surprised to be billed for it. Ask explicitly whether removal and the follow-up scan are included in the price.
If you are travelling for treatment, the stent is the part of the plan most likely to outlast your trip. Either build the removal date into your stay, or agree in writing before you fly how removal will be handled at home, including who provides the operation note and stent details your local urologist will need.
Living with a stent
Stents are effective but frequently uncomfortable, and it is better to know that in advance. Most people notice some combination of a need to pass urine more often and more urgently, a dull ache in the flank or bladder when the bladder empties, discomfort in the groin or, in men, the tip of the penis, and visible blood in the urine that comes and goes. This is expected rather than a sign that something is wrong.
Symptoms are often worse with physical activity, so a stent can be genuinely limiting if you have a demanding job or exercise routine. Drinking plenty of fluid, simple painkillers, and medicines that relax the bladder such as alpha blockers or antimuscarinics all help, and are worth asking about rather than enduring the discomfort silently.
Some stents are fitted with a thread left outside the urethra so you can remove the stent yourself at home on a set date. This avoids a second procedure but is slightly more prone to the stent coming out early. Whether it suits you is worth discussing.
Removal and follow-up
Almost all stents are removed within days to a few weeks, and typically no later than three months unless a longer-term stent has been deliberately chosen. Leaving a stent in beyond its intended life is the single most important thing to avoid, because it can encrust with mineral deposits, block, or become embedded, turning a five-minute removal into a complicated operation.
Removal is quick. In most cases a fine flexible cystoscope is passed into the bladder under local anaesthetic gel, the stent is grasped and pulled out, and you go home immediately. It is uncomfortable for a few seconds rather than painful, and the urinary symptoms usually settle within a day or two.
Make sure you leave the hospital with a written note of the date the stent was placed, the type and length used, and the date it must come out. Set a reminder. If you have any doubt about who is responsible for removing it, resolve that before you travel home.
Risks and warning signs
The procedure itself is low risk and well established. The recognised complications are urinary tract infection, bleeding, stent migration up or down, blockage of the stent, encrustation if it is left too long, and, rarely, injury to the ureter during placement.
Some blood in the urine and stent discomfort are normal. What is not normal, and needs urgent medical attention, is a fever or shivering chills, severe or worsening flank pain, being unable to pass urine at all, or heavy bleeding with clots. An infected, obstructed urinary system can become dangerous quickly, so do not wait these out.
If you had the stent placed abroad, know before you fly who you will call. Keep your operation note, the stent details and the clinic contact together, and register the situation with your GP or local urology service on arrival rather than after a problem starts.
Frequently asked
Does a ureteral stent hurt?
The placement is done under anaesthetic so you feel nothing at the time. Living with the stent is the uncomfortable part: urinary urgency, flank ache when you pass urine and blood in the urine are common. Painkillers and bladder-relaxing medicines help, so tell your team rather than putting up with it.
How long can a double J stent stay in?
Usually days to a few weeks, and generally no more than three months unless a long-term stent has been chosen deliberately. Leaving one in too long risks encrustation and blockage, which makes removal far more difficult. Always know your removal date.
How is the stent removed?
Normally with a fine flexible cystoscope under local anaesthetic gel, as a quick outpatient procedure with no recovery time. Some stents have a thread left outside the body so they can be withdrawn without a scope.
Can I work and exercise with a stent in?
Many people can, but symptoms are often worse with physical exertion. Light activity is fine; heavy lifting and intense exercise commonly increase pain and bleeding. Plan for a lighter few weeks if you can.
Is blood in my urine normal with a stent?
Intermittent blood is expected and typically comes and goes with activity. Heavy bleeding with clots, an inability to pass urine, fever or severe pain are not normal and need urgent assessment.
Can I fly with a stent in place?
Yes, flying with a stent is generally safe. The practical issue is arranging removal on time, so confirm before you travel who will take it out, when, and that you have the operation note and stent details to hand over.
