MickeyX,
Yes, they removed the stent in an office setting, while I was awake and sitting upright on the edge of a physical examination bed. The nurse reached down, pulled my penis out and injected a topical up the urethra and held the head of my penis for a couple seconds so it would not squirt out. Then the surgeon walked into the office and inserted a small laparoscope into my urethra into my bladder to locate the stents loop. The nurse had control of the manual claw and followed the surgeon's instructions. It tooks them about five times to grab the loop then in one long pull, he pulled the laparoscope and the stent out.
Yes, I understand the need for the stent. Especially when the ureter was damaged by the stone, as well as the surgical procedure to remove to stone. also as you said to provide time for the smaller laser blasted bits to be ejected with my urine.
My wife is a surgical RN and she was amazed about my experience as well...