Percutaneous urinary procedures

Percutaneous (through the skin) urinary procedures help drain urine from your bladder and get rid of kidney stones .

Description

A percutaneous nephrostomy is the placement of a small, flexible rubber tube ( catheter ) through your skin into your kidney to drain your urine. It is inserted through your back or flank.

Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (or nephrolithotomy) is the passing of a special medical instrument through your skin into your kidney. This is done to remove kidney stones.

Most stones pass out of the body on their own through urine. When they do not, your doctor may recommend these procedures.

During the procedure, you lie on your stomach on a table. You are given a shot of lidocaine. This is the same medicine your dentist uses to numb your mouth. The doctor or nurse may give you medicines to help you relax and reduce pain.

If you have nephrostomy only:

• The doctor inserts a needle into your skin. Then the nephrostomy catheter is passed through the needle into your kidney.
• You may feel pressure and discomfort when the catheter is inserted.
• A special type of x-ray is used to make sure the catheter is in the right place.

  x-ray

  X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray particles through the body. The im...

   

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If you have percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (or nephrolithotomy):

• You will receive general anesthesia so that you will be asleep and feel no pain.
• The doctor makes a small cut (incision) on your back. A needle is passed through the skin into your kidney.
• Special instruments are then passed through the needle. Your doctor uses these to take out the stone or break it into pieces.
• After the procedure, a tube is placed in the kidney (nephrostomy tube). Another tube, called a stent, is placed in the ureter to drain urine from your kidney. This allows your kidney to heal.

The place where the nephrostomy catheter was inserted is covered with a dressing. The catheter is connected to a drainage bag.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Reasons to have a percutaneous nephrostomy or nephrostolithotomy are:

• Your flow of urine is blocked.
• You are having a lot of pain even after being treated for a kidney stone.
• X-rays show the kidney stone is too large to pass by itself.
• Urine is leaking inside your body.
• The kidney stone is causing urinary tract infections .

  Urinary tract infections

  A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of the urinary tract. The infection can occur at different points in the urinary tract, including...

   

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• The kidney stone is damaging your kidney.

Risks

Percutaneous nephrostomy and nephrostolithotomy are generally safe. Ask your doctor about these possible complications:

• Pieces of stone left in your body (you may need more treatments)
• Bleeding around your kidney
• Problems with kidney function, or kidney(s) that stop working
• Pieces of the stone blocking urine flow from your kidney, which may cause very bad pain or kidney damage
• Kidney infection

Before the Procedure

Tell your health care provider:

• If you are or could be pregnant.
• What medicines you are taking. These include medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.
• If you have been drinking a lot of alcohol.
• You are allergic to contrast dye used during x-rays.

On the day of the surgery:

• You may be asked not to drink or eat anything for at least 6 hours before the procedure.
• Take the medicines you have been told to take with a small sip of water.
• You will be told when to arrive at the hospital. Be sure to arrive on time.

After the Procedure

You are taken to the recovery room. You may be able to eat soon if you do not have an upset stomach.

You may be able to go home within 24 hours. If there are problems, your doctor may keep you in the hospital longer.

The doctor will take out the tubes if x-rays show that the kidney stones are gone and your kidney has healed. If stones are still there, you may have the same procedure again soon.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy or nephrolithotomy almost always helps ease the symptoms of kidney stones. Often, the doctor is able to remove your kidney stones completely. Sometimes you need to have other procedures to get rid of the stones.

Most people who are treated for kidney stones need to make lifestyle changes so that their bodies do not make new kidney stones. These changes include avoiding certain foods and not taking certain vitamins. Some people also have to take medicines to keep new stones from forming.