Double-J Stent - 6 important questions

This article was translated from the original Portuguese. Português

Can a patient with a double-J stent work?

Yes. The only more “relevant” recommendation is that, after the stent is placed, the patient rests for 24 hours and drinks plenty of water.

It is important to remember that double-J stent placement is a procedure that involves no incision, no cut at all; it is done entirely through the urinary tract by endoscopy. But since it is a “foreign” device in your body, it is advisable to maintain relative rest and avoid intense physical activity until the stent is removed. You can, however, return to work normally.

Does a kidney stone count as a comorbidity?

Yes. Ideally, a person should not undergo multiple surgeries to treat kidney stones. According to Dr. Bruno Benigno (CRM SP 126265), urologist at Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz and director of Clínica Uro Onco, what can be done is:

1. Analyze the composition of the stones removed from your kidney in the previous surgery.
2. Do a 24-hour urine test.

With this information, it is possible to determine what abnormalities are present in your urine and what urologists can correct, for example, elevated uric acid, excess calcium in the urine, low oxalate, low citrate.

These abnormalities can increase the risk of developing a kidney stone.

Ideally, preventive follow-up should be carried out to avoid multiple repeat surgeries.

Kidney stone in the ureter: is it possible that the stone will not pass into the bladder and be eliminated in the urine?

A stone in the ureter, the thin tube that connects the kidney to the bladder, has a good chance of being passed in the urine (around eighty percent). This figure applies to stones up to 7 mm.

According to Dr. Bruno, the important thing is to see a doctor and have an ultrasound, so that the patient receives all the appropriate medical guidance. Drinking plenty of water is very important, as is maintaining relative rest, avoiding intense physical activity and watching for symptoms such as fever, chills, malaise and excessive back pain, which should not occur.

Ideally, urinating into a small container is a good option, as it lets you see whether the stone is actually passed or not.

In short: the chance of the stone being passed is high. There are medications such as tamsulosin that can be used; they act as a dilator of the ureter, increasing the chance of the stone passing naturally by about three times on average.

Is it normal to see blood in the urine after double-J stent placement?

Yes, it is normal. Anyone with a double-J stent may have this “symptom” because, as a foreign body in the bladder, it can injure the mucosa, the very delicate inner lining of the bladder, which is similar to the lining of the mouth.

So the stent in this location acts as a foreign body, causing minor bleeding.

It is also common for patients to feel a very frequent urge to urinate and go to the bathroom many times, a feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely, and urinary urgency.

Constant urge to urinate: is it related to kidney stones?

Most likely not. A stone in the kidney usually causes no symptoms.

This sensation may be cystitis or a urinary tract infection.

In this case, you should seek medical care, have a urine test to check for bacteria or infection, and an ultrasound if necessary, to see whether a stone has migrated from the kidney toward the bladder or whether it is simply a urinary tract infection.

Is low back pain a symptom of kidney stones?

When kidney stones cause pain, it is simply due to migration (the stone leaving the kidney) toward the ureter. This blocks the flow of urine and increases pressure in the kidney.

To tell low back pain apart from renal colic:

1. Renal colic pain is felt more on one side only, either the right or the left. Low back pain is usually felt in the “middle”
2. Renal colic pain is very intense and exhausting. The patient usually has cramping, nausea and vomiting, cannot find a comfortable position and needs to seek emergency care. Simple low back pain, on the other hand, is usually not that intense; it is a “dull ache” that builds up, is sometimes a bit worse in the morning, and is generally associated with movement.

In practical terms, low back pain tends to be a more chronic, insidious pain, whereas renal colic is not.

To tell one from the other, Dr. Benigno recommends imaging tests, ultrasound, CT scan, a physical examination and a medical assessment of the spine and muscles, making it easier to differentiate each type of pain and its causes.

All the questions in this text were taken from a video on Dr. Bruno Benigno's channel, based on frequent patient questions. To watch the full video or get answers to other questions, visit:

Written by: Sofia Carnavalli | Press Office

of Dr. Bruno Benigno (CRM SP 126265).

Dr. Bruno Benigno
Urologist and uro-oncologic surgeon (CRM-SP 126.265 · RQE 60022). More than 1,500 robotic surgeries. Member of the AUA, EAU and SBU. Meet Dr. Bruno · In the Media

This content is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Each case must be assessed individually, based on AUA, EAU and NCCN guidelines.