Home > Encyclopedia of Cancer > Nephrostomy

Definition

Nephrostomy is a procedure in which a catheter (plastic tube) is inserted through the skin and into the kidney to drain it of urine. Urine drains into a bag outside the body.

Purpose

The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. When this tube is blocked, urine backs up into the kidney. Serious, irreversible kidney damage can occur because of this backflow of urine. Infection is also a common implication in this stagnant urine.

Nephrostomy is performed in several different circumstances:

• when the ureter is blocked by a kidney stone
• when the ureter is blocked by a tumor
• when there is a hole in the ureter or bladder and urine is leaking into the body
• as a...