From the Guidelines
Nephrostomy tubes are catheters placed into the renal collecting system to provide urinary decompression and facilitate endourologic surgery, typically using imaging guidance and the Seldinger needle-wire technique. These tubes are used to drain urine directly from the kidneys when there is an obstruction in the urinary tract, such as a kidney stone or tumor, and can be either external or internal, with the latter allowing for internal drainage through the ureter and bladder 1. The use of nephrostomy tubes has been proven to be a safe and effective technique with limited morbidity and mortality, and is often used in emergency situations such as acute obstructive uropathy accompanied by acute renal failure or sepsis.
Key characteristics of nephrostomy tubes include:
- Placement into the renal collecting system using imaging guidance and the Seldinger needle-wire technique
- Use for urinary decompression and endourologic surgery
- Can be either external or internal, with internal tubes allowing for drainage through the ureter and bladder
- Proven to be a safe and effective technique with limited morbidity and mortality 1
- Often used in emergency situations such as acute obstructive uropathy accompanied by acute renal failure or sepsis
In terms of management, nephrostomy tubes can be removed immediately, within 24 to 48 hours, or after 5 to 7 days, depending on the patient's condition and the complexity of the stone or obstruction being treated 1. The use of nephrostomy tubes has many advantages, including the ability to inspect the collecting system directly, identify and remove small fragments, and keep the tract open indefinitely for repeated inspections 1. Overall, nephrostomy tubes play a crucial role in the management of urinary tract obstructions and are an important tool in the field of urology.
From the Research
Definition and Purpose of Nephrostomy Tubes
- Nephrostomy tubes are not directly defined in the provided studies, but they can be inferred to be related to renal replacement therapy and dialysis.
- Dialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine, and it is typically used for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or acute kidney injury 2.
- The provided studies discuss different aspects of dialysis, including the timing of initiation, modalities, and complications, but they do not specifically mention nephrostomy tubes.
Related Concepts and Procedures
- The studies mention the use of dialysis catheters, which are used to access the bloodstream for dialysis 3, 4, 2.
- Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is also discussed, which involves the use of a catheter to infuse dialysate into the peritoneal cavity 3, 5, 2.
- The creation of a surgically created access for haemodialysis is mentioned, which may be related to the use of nephrostomy tubes 6.