A DJ stent for kidney stone is placed to keep urine flowing from the kidney to the bladder when a stone, swelling, infection or stone surgery may block the ureter. The ureter is the thin tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. A DJ stent does not break, dissolve or remove the stone. It is a temporary drainage and safety tube. Burning urine, frequency, urgency, mild blood in urine and flank discomfort are common while the stent is inside. Fever, severe pain, vomiting, inability to pass urine or heavy bleeding need urgent medical care.

What is a DJ stent?

A DJ stent, also called a Double J stent or JJ stent, is a thin, flexible tube placed inside the ureter. One end curls inside the kidney and the other end curls inside the bladder. These curls help prevent the stent from moving.

The stent usually stays completely inside the body. In selected cases, a thread may be left outside for planned early removal.

Why is a DJ stent for kidney stone placed?

A DJ stent for kidney stone is placed when the urologist wants to protect urine drainage from the kidney. A stone can block the ureter. Stone surgery can also cause temporary swelling, clots or tiny fragments that may block urine flow.

A DJ stent may be placed before surgery, during surgery, after surgery or as an emergency drainage procedure.

1. Stone stuck in the ureter

If a stone gets stuck in the ureter, urine may not drain properly. This can cause severe flank pain, vomiting, hydronephrosis [swelling of the kidney due to back pressure] or reduced kidney function.

A DJ stent allows urine to bypass the blocked area and drain from the kidney to the bladder.

2. Kidney stone with fever or urine infection

A stone with fever, chills, pus in urine or sepsis risk is an emergency. In this situation, the first priority is urgent drainage, not immediate stone removal.

The European Association of Urology recommends urgent decompression of the collecting system in sepsis with obstructing stones, using either ureteral stenting or percutaneous drainage, and delaying definitive stone treatment until sepsis resolves.

In simple words: first drain the infected kidney, control infection, then plan stone removal safely.

3. After URSL for ureteric stone

After URSL [ureteroscopic stone removal], the ureter may become swollen or irritated. A stent keeps urine flowing while the ureter heals.

A stent is more likely after URSL if:

• The stone was impacted.
• The ureter was tight.
• There was swelling or bleeding.
• The procedure was difficult.
• Some fragments may still pass.
• There was infection risk.
• The kidney needed extra drainage protection.

4. After RIRS for kidney stone

After RIRS [retrograde intrarenal surgery], a DJ stent may be placed to support drainage from the kidney to the bladder. This is especially useful after laser dusting or fragmentation, where tiny stone particles may pass down the ureter.

The stent helps prevent temporary blockage from swelling, clots or fragments.

5. Tight ureter before planned stone surgery

Sometimes the ureter is too narrow to safely pass the scope or access sheath. Instead of forcing the instrument, the surgeon may place a DJ stent and plan surgery later.

This is called pre-stenting. It allows the ureter to relax and widen gradually, making the second procedure safer.

6. Solitary kidney or high-risk drainage

If a patient has only one functioning kidney, reduced kidney function, significant hydronephrosis or a high-risk blockage, the threshold for stenting may be lower.

In such cases, the stent acts like a safety drainage tube.

Does a DJ stent remove the kidney stone?

No. A DJ stent does not remove, melt, dissolve or break the stone.

It only keeps urine flowing.

This is one of the most important things patients should understand. In many emergency cases, the DJ stent is only the first step. The stone may still need treatment later.

Depending on stone size, location and infection status, treatment may include:

• Medicines and observation for selected small stones.
• URSL for ureteric stones.
• RIRS for kidney stones.
• ESWL in selected cases.
• PCNL or mini-PCNL for large kidney stones.

Is a DJ stent always needed after kidney stone surgery?

No. Not every kidney stone surgery needs a stent.

NICE recommends that post-treatment stenting should not be routinely offered to adults after ureteroscopy for ureteric stones less than 20 mm. The EAU guideline also advises not to insert a stent in uncomplicated ureteroscopy cases.

But this applies only when the surgery is uncomplicated and the surgeon feels drainage is safe.

So, the decision is personalised. It depends on what the surgeon sees during the procedure.

How is a DJ stent placed?

A DJ stent is usually placed through the urinary passage using a small telescope called a cystoscope. There is usually no cut on the body.

The urologist passes a guidewire into the ureter and places the stent between the kidney and bladder. X-ray guidance may be used to confirm the position.

Anaesthesia may be:

• General anaesthesia.
• Spinal anaesthesia.
• Short sedation in selected cases.
• Local anaesthesia for selected removals.

Hospital stay depends on the reason for stenting. Some patients go home the same day. Patients with fever, infection, kidney dysfunction, severe pain or sepsis risk may need admission.

How long does a DJ stent stay after kidney stone treatment?

The duration depends on why it was placed. There is no single fixed duration for every patient.

Your discharge summary should clearly mention:

• Date of DJ stent placement.
• Side of stent — right or left.
• Whether the stone was removed or still present.
• Planned stent removal date or time window.
• Whether another surgery is needed.

A DJ stent should not be forgotten. A stent left too long can develop encrustation [stone-like deposits on the stent], infection, blockage or difficulty during removal.

What symptoms are common with a DJ stent?

Many patients feel stent-related symptoms. These can be irritating but are often expected.

Common symptoms include:

• Burning while passing urine.
• Frequent urination.
• Sudden urgency to pass urine.
• Lower abdominal or bladder discomfort.
• Mild blood in urine.
• Flank pain, especially during or after urination.
• Pain at the tip of the penis in men.
• Feeling of incomplete urine emptying.
• Discomfort while walking, travelling or climbing stairs.

Symptoms may increase after physical activity, dehydration, long travel or forceful urination. Adequate fluids, avoiding heavy exertion and taking prescribed medicines may help.

Why does a DJ stent cause pain during urination?

The lower end of the stent sits inside the bladder. When the bladder contracts during urination, it can irritate the stent.

This can cause:

• Bladder pain.
• Burning urine.
• Urgency.
• Pain going toward the kidney.
• Flank discomfort after passing urine.

Mild to moderate discomfort can happen. Severe pain, fever or vomiting should not be ignored.

Normal symptoms vs warning signs

Can you work, travel or exercise with a DJ stent?

Many patients can do routine activities with a DJ stent, but comfort varies.

Practical advice:

• Drink water regularly unless your doctor has restricted fluids.
• Avoid heavy lifting if it increases pain or bleeding.
• Avoid long travel if you have fever, severe pain or recent emergency stenting.
• Carry your discharge summary during travel.
• Do not postpone the stent removal date.
• Ask your urologist before strenuous exercise if a thread has been left outside.

A stent is temporary. The safest plan is to follow the removal or second-surgery schedule exactly.

How is a DJ stent removed?

DJ stent removal is usually a short procedure.

Flexible cystoscopy removal

A small flexible camera is passed through the urinary passage into the bladder. The stent is held and removed.

Thread removal

In selected cases, a thread may be attached to the stent and left outside. The stent can then be removed by controlled pulling in the clinic or procedure room.

Removal under anaesthesia

This may be needed for children, anxious patients, difficult stents, encrusted stents or complicated cases.

After removal, mild burning, frequency or discomfort may occur for 24 to 48 hours. Fever, severe pain, inability to pass urine or heavy bleeding after removal needs urgent care.

Questions every patient should ask before discharge

Before leaving the hospital, ask:

• Why was my DJ stent placed?
• Is my stone removed or still present?
• Which side is the stent on?
• When exactly should it be removed?
• Do I need another surgery?
• Do I need urine culture before removal or surgery?
• Which symptoms are expected?
• Which symptoms need emergency care?
• Can I travel before stent removal?
• Who should I contact if I develop fever or severe pain?

What to bring for consultation

Bring these if available:

• USG KUB report.
• CT KUB report and images, if done.
• X-ray KUB, if done.
• Urine routine report.
• Urine culture report.
• Serum creatinine and other blood tests.
• Discharge summary.
• Operation notes, if available.
• Date of DJ stent placement.
• Planned date of stent removal.
• Current medicines and antibiotics.
• Fever record, if any.
• Previous stone analysis, if available.

FAQs about DJ stent for kidney stone

Related reading

• Stone Stuck in Ureter: Symptoms and Treatment
• Stone with Hydronephrosis: What It Means
• Stone with Urine Infection: Why It Can Be Dangerous
• Emergency DJ Stenting for Infected Kidney Stone
• Kidney Stone Treatment Without Surgery: Medicines, ESWL & Safe Options
• Kidney Stone Treatment in Latur.

References

• European Association of Urology. EAU Guidelines on Urolithiasis https://uroweb.org/guidelines/urolithiasis/chapter/guidelines
• NICE Guideline NG118. Renal and ureteric stones: assessment and management https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng118/chapter/recommendations
• British Association of Urological Surgeons. Advice to patients with a ureteric stent https://www.baus.org.uk/_userfiles/pages/files/Patients/Leaflets/Stent%20advice.pdf
• Urology Care Foundation. Ureteral Stents: What You Should Know https://www.urologyhealth.org/educational-resources/ureteral-stents-what-you-should-know
• Ordonez M, Hwang EC, Borofsky M, Bakker CJ, Gandhi S, Dahm P. Ureteral stent versus no ureteral stent for ureteroscopy in the management of renal and ureteral calculi. Cochrane Database Syst Rev https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6365118/