Definition of 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 catheter (tube) through your skin into your kidney to drain your urine.

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

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

You will lie on your stomach on a table. You will be given a shot of Lidocaine or Xylocaine (the same medicines your dentist uses to numb your mouth). Your doctor or nurse may give you drugs to help you relax and reduce your pain.

If you have nephrostomy only:

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

If you have percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (or nephrolithotomy):

• The doctor makes a small incision (cut) on your back and passes a needle through the skin to your kidney.
• Special instruments are then passed through the needle. Your doctor will use these to take out the stone or break it into pieces.
• After the procedure, a tube is placed in the kidney (nephrostomy tube), and 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 will be covered with a dressing. The catheter itself will be 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.
• The kidney stone is damaging your kidney.