A ureteral stent is a flexible plastic tube for insertion into the ureter to treat or prevent blockages that impede urine flow from the kidney to the bladder, such as kidney stones. Once the blockage has cleared, the stent is ready for removal.

There are several ways to remove a ureteral stent:

Stent removal using flexible cystoscopy

This procedure takes 1 to 2 minutes and usually takes place in the hospital. In rare cases, doctors perform the procedure in the operating room under general anesthetic.

A person lies down and may be able to watch the procedure on the same screen as the practitioner.

The first step is to wash the urethral opening and pass an anesthetic gel into the urethra to help lubricate it. The practitioner inserts a flexible cystoscope into the bladder and fills it with sterile water, helping make the stent visible.

The next step is to pass a fine instrument through the cystoscope that attaches to the stent. The stent comes out when the practitioner pulls out the cystoscope, which may cause mild discomfort. A person can empty their bladder immediately after the procedure.

Read more about what to expect from a cystoscopy.

Stent removal using a string

Practitioners sometimes use a ureteric stent with a string, which makes removal quicker and less invasive. People can often remove the stent themselves, following the guidance of their healthcare team.

The stent has an attached string, which hangs outside the urethra and may be taped to the skin. To remove the stent, a person simply pulls the string. It may help to pull out the stent in the morning while in the bath or shower.

To reduce discomfort, a person can drink 3 cups of water and take pain-relief medication, such as acetaminophen, 30 minutes before removing the stent.

A 2023 study involving 168 people who self-removed their stents using strings reported that most of them found the procedure easy. There were also low complication rates. A randomized controlled trial in the same year found similar results.

There may be mild discomfort for a few days after either stent removal procedure, which a person can manage with over-the-counter pain relief. Drinking more water than usual for the rest of the day is also a good idea.

The risk of infection is low, but if a person experiences symptoms of infection, they must contact their urologist.