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Stent surgery - the right stent, in the right vessel.

A stent is a small tube that holds a narrowed vessel or duct open. In the UK we most often mean coronary, peripheral, ureteric or biliary stents - each with its own team, its own technique and its own follow-up.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private stent surgery costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£10,000–£18,000, home day-case or one night.

Procedure Indicative range
Coronary stent (day-case, single vessel) £10,000–£18,000
Peripheral artery stent (leg) £8,500–£16,000
Ureteric stent (JJ) £2,800–£5,500
Biliary stent (ERCP or percutaneous) £5,500–£12,000
Coronary consultation only £300–£550
CT coronary angiogram £850–£1,400

Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant, by approach, and by whether adjunct services are needed.

The problem

Which stent, which team, and what happens next.

Stents are not one product. Coronary, peripheral, ureteric and biliary systems each behave differently - the key is matching indication, operator and follow-up.

  • Coronary stents are not for everyone

    Stable angina often does well with medication alone. Stents are for the right lesions, in the right symptoms.

  • Ureteric stents are temporary by design

    Most JJ stents come out or are exchanged at 3–12 months. A long-term plan is set at the outset.

  • Biliary stents need MDT

    Malignant biliary obstruction needs a hepatobiliary MDT before any stent choice - plastic, metal, side-by-side or drainage first.

When it helps

When stent surgery is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that needs urgent attention rather than a routine booking.

  • Symptomatic coronary artery disease

    Angina despite medication, or a large ischaemic burden on functional imaging. Discussed at heart-team level.

  • Peripheral arterial disease with claudication

    Lifestyle-limiting leg pain despite exercise and best medical therapy - vascular MDT reviews the case.

  • Ureteric stone with obstruction

    A stone causing obstruction, sepsis or worsening renal function needs urgent stenting, usually before definitive treatment.

  • Malignant biliary obstruction

    Painless jaundice from a pancreatic or bile duct cancer - a biliary stent relieves symptoms while a plan is made.

  • Post-transplant vascular strictures

    Renal or hepatic transplant vessels sometimes need salvage stenting in specialist units.

  • Aneurysmal disease with a suitable neck

    Endovascular stent grafts for abdominal or thoracic aortic aneurysms in dedicated units.

  • Carotid or vertebral disease

    A subset of patients where carotid stenting is an alternative to endarterectomy - MDT decision.

  • Red flag: acute limb ischaemia

    Sudden, painful, pale, pulseless limb needs same-day vascular surgery - not a routine stent enquiry.

Options

Approach and technique both depend on the indication.

What each option involves - the surgical or clinical approach, and how it is tailored to each patient.

  • Drug-eluting coronary stents

    Modern stents with an antiproliferative coating - the default for most coronary lesions.

  • Bare metal stents

    Occasionally used where dual antiplatelet therapy cannot be tolerated.

  • Peripheral artery balloon-expandable stents

    Deployed in iliac and infrainguinal disease under angiographic guidance.

  • Self-expanding peripheral stents

    For longer superficial femoral artery lesions where flexibility matters.

  • Ureteric JJ stents

    Curled at both ends to sit between kidney and bladder. Placed at cystoscopy under sedation.

  • Plastic biliary stents

    For benign obstruction or short-term drainage - exchanged periodically.

  • Self-expanding metal biliary stents

    For malignant obstruction with a longer expected patency.

  • Endovascular stent grafts

    For aortic and iliac aneurysm repair in dedicated vascular units.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

A well-established treatment. The things worth planning are the approach, the aftercare and the follow-up.

  • Radial access is safer for coronary work

    Radial coronary access has lower bleeding rates than femoral in most patients - the default in modern UK labs.

  • Bleeding and haematoma

    Access-site bleeding and haematoma are the commonest complications. Managed with pressure and observation.

  • Contrast nephropathy

    Iodinated contrast can worsen renal function in vulnerable patients. Pre-procedure hydration and dose limits reduce risk.

  • Stent thrombosis

    Rare but serious. Dual antiplatelet therapy is not optional and duration is set by the operator.

  • Restenosis and re-intervention

    Around 5 percent of drug-eluting stents restenose within a year. Repeat intervention is possible.

  • Ureteric stent symptoms

    Frequency, urgency and flank pain are common with a JJ stent. Analgesia and hydration help - persistent sepsis needs urgent review.

  • Biliary stent occlusion

    Plastic biliary stents block after weeks to months. A follow-up plan for exchange is set at the outset.

  • Stent migration

    Rare but possible in biliary and ureteric stents. Follow-up imaging picks it up.

  • Red flags after the procedure

    Chest pain, cold or pulseless limb, fever with jaundice, or heavy bleeding need the same-day team or A&E.

Reading your notes

Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever approach was used, the note the consultant sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant reviewing a patient’s notes

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the notes before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and vessel

    Which vessel or duct, why the stent was placed, and the imaging that supported the intervention.

  2. 02 Technique

    Access and equipment

    Radial or femoral access, the stent type and size, and any adjunctive imaging used.

  3. 03 Findings

    Post-deployment run

    Angiographic or fluoroscopic images showing the vessel patent and the stent well-apposed.

  4. 04 Impression

    Medication and follow-up

    Read this first: antiplatelet or antibiotic protocol, imaging follow-up and the specialist review date.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Coronary and peripheral stents are usually covered when medically indicated. Ureteric and biliary stents are covered under urology and hepatobiliary pathways.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about stent surgery.

Quick answers on suitability, technique, cost and recovery.

  • How much does stent surgery cost privately in the UK?

    A private single-vessel coronary stent runs £10,000–£18,000, a leg artery stent £8,500–£16,000, a ureteric JJ stent £2,800–£5,500, and a biliary stent £5,500–£12,000.

  • Are coronary stents the right answer for angina?

    Not always. Stable angina responds well to medication and lifestyle in many patients. Stents are reserved for large ischaemic burden or symptoms not controlled by medication - a heart-team conversation matters.

  • How long does a ureteric stent stay in?

    Most JJ stents are removed or exchanged at 3–12 months. Encrusted or forgotten stents cause problems - a follow-up plan is set at placement.

  • What is a drug-eluting stent?

    A coronary stent coated with a medication that reduces scar tissue growth inside it. This lowers restenosis rates and is the default in modern practice.

  • What is life like after a coronary stent?

    Most patients resume full activity within a week. Dual antiplatelet therapy is essential for at least six months, and long-term single antiplatelet therapy afterwards.

  • Do stents replace bypass surgery?

    Sometimes. Multi-vessel disease, complex lesions and diabetes often still favour bypass. A heart team reviews the anatomy and comorbidity to choose.

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