I had kidney stone surgery. Can I request to have my stent removed?

A ureteral stent is a soft hollow plastic tube placed in the ureter to help keep urine flowing from the kidney into the urinary bladder. A stent may be placed initially to help the ureter dilate prior to ureteroscopic surgery to remove a stone in the ureter or kidney.  It is also commonly placed after the procedure to help the ureter heal. Unfortunately stents can cause pain, and most patients would prefer to have them removed sooner than later, as would your urologist who will normally give you a target date for removal at the time it is placed.  If your stent is more painful than you can endure, talk to your urologist who might adjust the schedule for removal.