Nephrostomy Tube

A nephrostomy tube is a thin plastic tube inserted through the skin of your back into your kidney to drain urine when normal urine flow is blocked.
It is used to relieve pressure on the kidney, prevent damage, and allow urine to be collected in a bag outside the body.

Blocked / obstructed ureter: due to a kidney stone, tumor, or other cause
Injury: A hole in the ureter or bladder that causes urine to leak.
Preparation: To prepare for surgery or other procedures on the kidney or ureter.
Cancer: Cancer affecting the pelvis or treatment for cancer can block the ureter.

You will lie on your stomach on a table.
A local anesthetic will be injected to numb the area where the tube is inserted.
An interventional radiologist will use ultrasound or X-ray to guide a needle through your back into the kidney.
A wire is passed through the needle, and the nephrostomy tube is then threaded over the wire into the kidney.
The outer end of the tube is attached to a drainage bag to collect urine.
The procedure usually takes about 20–30 minutes.

The insertion site must be kept clean to prevent infection, with a dressing changed regularly as instructed by your doctor.
The tube will be secured with a stitch or dressing to prevent it from pulling.
You can shower with the dressing covered with plastic wrap.
A drainage bag will collect the urine and needs to be emptied regularly.
The tube may need to be flushed periodically to ensure it isn’t blocked.