Percutaneous Nephrostomy

Percutaneous nephrostomy has been performed for 50 years and remains one of the most fundamental nonvascular interventional radiology procedures.[1] [2] [3] Typically the procedure is done for urinary diversion in patients with an obstruction or a distal leak or fistula. Other indications include access for treatment of nephrolithiasis or ureteral strictures. Concomitant obstruction and sepsis is usually considered an indication for urgent nephrostomy. There are two common methods used for catheter insertion: the single-stick and double-stick techniques. I favor the former method.

REFERENCES

• 1 Dyer R B, Regan J D, Kavanagh P V, Khatod E G, Chen M Y, Zagoria R J. Percutaneous nephrostomy with extensions of the technique: step by step.  Radiographics. 2002;  22 503-525
• 2 Farrell T A, Hicks M E. A review of radiologically guided percutaneous nephrostomies in 303 patients.  J Vasc Interv Radiol. 1997;  8 769-774
• 3 Maher M M, Fotheringham T, Lee M J. Percutaneous nephrostomy.  Semin Intervent Radiol. 2000;  17 329-340
• 4 Funaki B, Vatakencherry G. Comparison of single-stick and double-stick techniques for percutaneous nephrostomy.  Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2004;  27 35-37