Broken retrieval string leads to failed self-removal of a double-J ureteral stent.

Double-J ureteral stents facilitating the drainage of urine from the kidney to the bladder are widely used. Stents designed for patient self-removal are commonplace. We report a case of urosepsis that lead to the incidental discovery of a failed self-removal of a double-J ureteral stent. The retrieval cord broke during self-removal and the patient mistook the string for the stent. Adequate patient education is essential to assure successful self-removal.