Nephrostomy Insertion

What is nephrostomy and what is its use?
Nephrostomy tube
Nephrostomy surgery is a temporary treatment for patients whose urinary tract has problems and the patient cannot expel urine through the bladder and urinary tract. In this surgical method, an artificial gap is created in the side of the patient and a flexible plastic tube is placed inside it so that the patient's urine can directly exit from this part. This tube remains in the patient's side until the patient's complete recovery and until the end of the treatment period.

What is renal nephrostomy?
Nephrostomy is the insertion of a thin plastic tube into the kidneys of patients whose ureters are blocked. This problem occurs when a person has cancer of the colon, ovary, pyonephrosis, hydronephrosis, or kidney stones.

The surgeon inserts the nephrostomy tube into the kidney by making an incision on the patient's side.

What are the features and uses of nephrostomy?
Nephrostomy is a soft and flexible tube that does not cause any problems when entering the patient's body. One end of this tube is placed in the patient's body and enters the kidney, and the other end is connected to the bag. When the kidney is full, it enters the bag through the tube.

After each time this bag is filled, it should be emptied by the people around the patient, and the bag should not be so full and heavy that the tube is separated from the patient's kidney. Rather, it should be emptied after each urination.

What is a nephrostomy tube and how is it placed inside the kidney?
The placement of this tube is done on an outpatient basis, the doctor cuts the desired area without anesthetizing the patient, just with a sedative and local anesthesia. Just before doing this, the doctor will take a radiological image of the patient's kidneys.

After making a cut in the desired place, the nephrostomy tube, which is a thin plastic tube, is inserted into the cut place to reach the urinary area. In order to determine the location of the nephrostomy in the urinary area of the kidney, the patient needs a radiology photo again. At the end of the nephrostomy tube is a urine bag.
What is a nephrostomy tube and how is it placed inside the kidney?
The placement of this tube is done on an outpatient basis, the doctor cuts the desired area without anesthetizing the patient, just with a sedative and local anesthesia. Just before doing this, the doctor will take a radiological image of the patient's kidneys.

After making a cut in the desired place, the nephrostomy tube, which is a thin plastic tube, is inserted into the cut place to reach the urinary area. In order to determine the location of the nephrostomy in the urinary area of the kidney, the patient needs a radiology photo again. At the end of the nephrostomy tube is a urine bag.

Does the nephrostomy tube endanger the health of patients?
When there is no way for urine to exit the urinary tract, there is no other option than nephrostomy and passing the tube into the kidney. In this method, the skin is cut and the kidneys are not harmed. But if the introduction of the nephrostomy tube into the kidney is not done well, they cause many problems for the patients. After kidney nephrostomy, you can use the patient's urinary tube for a while for the convenience of the patient

The most important complications of kidney nephrostomy
Incorrect placement of nephrostomy in the kidney: to prevent this error, a radiological picture of the patient's kidney should be taken after the operation.
Intraperitoneal leakage due to nephrostomy tube insertion: if this procedure is performed carelessly, the protective membrane of the abdominal viscera may be punctured. As a result, this procedure should be done slowly. It is necessary to prepare a radiology photo before this operation.
Possibility of bleeding: Bleeding that occurs after entering the nephrostomy tube in the kidney is completely normal, but if the bleeding does not stop, the doctor must seek a solution for it.
Chance of infection: Placing the tube inside the body with one end outside the body increases the chance of infection. For this reason, nephrostomy requires care.

Recommendations for kidney nephrostomy
Although this operation is performed on an outpatient basis, the patient needs to be taken care of so as not to suffer from problems such as infection.

The most important recommendations of doctors regarding this operation include the following:

One week before the operation, the patient should avoid taking anticoagulants such as aspirin, heparin and warfarin.

The patient should refrain from eating and drinking for 8 hours before the operation

To prevent infection during nephrostomy, the patient should drink 8 glasses of water during the day.

Do not bend the nephrostomy plastic tube

The discharge bag should be slightly lower than the waist. It is better for the patient to be on the bed and the urine bag should be placed at the bottom so that the urine can easily pass through the tube and enter the bag.

If the cut area on the side needs dressing, you should change it several times a day at home.

The skin around the nephrostomy should be dry and clean. If urine leaks in this area, it will cause infection and burn the skin.

Before you go to the bathroom, you should open the dressing of the nephrostomy, and after the bath, after drying the nephrostomy, you should bandage this area again with sterile gauze.

If the nephrostomy tube is removed from the kidney, do not move it. At this time, you should see a doctor