Home > Encyclopedia of Surgery > Nephrostomy

Definition

A nephrostomy is a surgical procedure by which a tube, stent, or catheter is inserted through the skin and into the kidney.

Purpose

The ureter is the fibromuscular 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 consequence in this stagnant urine.

Nephrostomy is performed in several different circumstances:

• The ureter is blocked by a kidney stone.
• The ureter is blocked by a tumor.
• There is a hole in the ureter or bladder and urine is leaking into the body.
• As a diagnostic procedure to assess kidney anatomy.
• As a diagnostic procedure to assess kidney...