Sometimes, after surgery, it’s discovered—often unexpectedly—that the ureter has been injured.

In such cases, the first step is usually ureteral stent placement.

A stent is a thin tube inserted into the ureter to allow urine to flow smoothly from the kidney to the bladder.

What if the stent can’t be placed?

If the stent cannot be inserted, the next step is often the placement of a nephrostomy tube.

This is a catheter that drains urine directly from the kidney through the skin.

Understandably, many patients feel hesitant:

“I want to avoid a nephrostomy if possible.” “I’m worried about the appearance and how it’ll affect my daily life.”

But the most important consideration is this:

Protecting your kidney.

What happens when urine flow is blocked?

When urine can’t drain properly, it builds up in the kidney and causes it to swell—a condition called hydronephrosis.

Each kidney contains about 1 million glomeruli, tiny filters that remove waste from the blood and produce urine.

These glomeruli are the core of your kidney function.

When pressure inside the kidney rises due to obstruction, the glomeruli begin to break down—and they do not regenerate once lost.

How long does it take to lose kidney function?

According to a recent review by Yaxley et al. (2023):

In experimental models:

Inflammation and cellular damage begin within 2 hours of obstruction. Partial function can be preserved for up to 2 weeks. After 4 weeks, kidney function is almost entirely lost.

Clinically:

If the obstruction is relieved within 1 week, recovery is often possible. After 6–8 weeks, there is a high risk of irreversible damage.

This means the mindset of “let’s wait and see” could be risky for your kidney.

Don’t wait—protect your kidneys

Even if one kidney is lost, you may not notice immediate problems as long as the other one is healthy.

However, if a future illness affects the remaining kidney, you could face dialysis.

Also, if you are undergoing or may need chemotherapy for gynecologic cancers like cervical or ovarian cancer, impaired kidney function may limit your treatment options.

It’s perfectly natural to want to avoid a nephrostomy.

But sometimes, it’s a necessary step—not just to treat the current problem, but to safeguard your long-term health and life.

Reference:

Yaxley J, Yaxley W. Obstructive uropathy – acute and chronic medical management. World J Nephrol. 2023;12(1):1–9.