Description

ABSTRACT

Background: Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) is a technique of establishing a drainage tract into the urinary system by puncturing the kidney directly through the skin. The indications are urinary tract obstruction, urinary diversion during ureteric injury or urine leak, access for percutaneous procedures as in stone treatment or ureteric stenting, diagnostic testing such as antegrade pyelography. Aim: To present our experience on the ease of access to the kidney percutaneously using an ultrasound scan as a guide. Patients and Methods: A prospective study of all percutaneous nephrostomies performed between 2016-2019. Information obtained includes age, gender, diagnosis, procedure, duration of surgery, complications, and successes were analysed. The procedure was done by the same urologist using the Seldinger’s technique, to achieve good puncture. Results: During the period of study, 18 patients with age range of 35-89 years and mean age of 66.9 years underwent percutaneous nephrostomies. There were 12 males and 6 females. Three patients had bilateral percutaneous nephrostomies. Initial cystoscopies were performed for all 18 patients. All the patients had urethral obstruction. Ten men had advanced carcinoma of the prostate while 2 men had ureteral stone. Three females had ureteral obstruction as a result of bladder carcinoma, 2 females had ureteral stones and 1 female had unilateral stenosis. All the patients had deranged electrolyte urea and creatine. Conclusion: With the advent of high-resolution ultrasound scan machines, percutaneous nephrostomy can be done easily.

 Keywords: Percutaneous nephrostomy, Pyelography, Ultrasound, Ureteral stone