Pyeloplasty

Need to know

• What happens icon plus

  Your consultant will make a small cut in the skin above the affected kidney. They will then widen the junction, inserting a stent (a thin tube) into the ureter to maintain it. The procedure takes about three hours and will be carried out under general anesthetic, which means you'll be asleep. A nephrostomy tube may be inserted into the kidney to drain the urine. A catheter (a thin tube) will also be inserted to help monitor urine drain from the non-affected kidney. The nephorstomy tube will be removed before you you go home and the catheter will be removed after 24 hours.

• How to prepare icon plus

  You shouldn't eat anything six hours before operation but you can drink up to two hours before your operation. The area of skin where the cut will be made may need to be shaved before the operation.

• Afterwards icon plus

  After the pyeloplasty procedure, you'll stay at the hospital for three to six days to recover (depending on the technique used). Your consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine. However, you can expect your post-discharge recovery to last four to six weeks. You'll usually have the stent removed six weeks after your operation.