Percutaneous nephrostomy or nephropyelostomy is an interventional procedure used mainly to open a blocked kidney waste collection system. The main reason that percutaneous nephrostomy tubes are placed is for temporary urinary diversion due to urinary obstruction secondary to calculi. Other common indications include:
- Diversion of urine from the renal collecting system in an attempt to heal fistulas or leaks due to traumatic or iatrogenic injury, malignant or inflammatory fistulas or hemorrhagic cystitis
- Treatment of nondilated obstructive uropathy
- Treatment of urinary tract obstruction related to pregnancy
- Treatment of complications related to renal transplants
- Access for interventions such as direct infusion of substances for dissolving stones, chemotherapy and antibiotic or antifungal therapy
- Access for other procedures (eg, benign stricture dilatation, antegrade ureteral stent placement, stone retrieval, pyeloureteroscopy, endopyelotomy)
- Decompression of nephric or perinephric fluid collections (eg, abscesses, urinomas)