Obstructed kidney
There are a number of causes for an obstructed kidney, including stones and cancer. A urologist is a type of surgeon who specializes in the urinary tract and can help you plan a treatment strategy if you have an obstructed kidney.
Sometimes, that strategy involves Interventional Radiology.
Typically, when we are asked to help in this situation, your urologist has decided that the safest approach to relieving your obstruction is for an IR doctor to place a tube into your kidney from the skin surface of the flank. This type of tube is known as a percutaneous nephrostomy.
A nephrostomy is usually placed by an IR doctor while you are receiving sedation. You are relaxed, but not totally asleep. And you breath on your own.
Sometimes, that strategy involves Interventional Radiology.
Typically, when we are asked to help in this situation, your urologist has decided that the safest approach to relieving your obstruction is for an IR doctor to place a tube into your kidney from the skin surface of the flank. This type of tube is known as a percutaneous nephrostomy.
A nephrostomy is usually placed by an IR doctor while you are receiving sedation. You are relaxed, but not totally asleep. And you breath on your own.
Once the nephrostomy is in place, urine will drain through the tube to a collecting bag.
Sometimes, a nephrostomy is the first step toward getting a ureteral stent placed. A ureteral stent goes from the kidney, down the ureter and into the urinary bladder. It passes whatever obstruction is present, allowing urine to flow into your bladder instead of out in the collection bag.
A stent can be placed by a Urologist, from the bladder up to the kidney, or by an Interventional Radiologist, from the kidney down to the bladder. When place by IR, we use the path formed by the nephrostomy to get the stent into place.
Sometimes, a nephrostomy is the first step toward getting a ureteral stent placed. A ureteral stent goes from the kidney, down the ureter and into the urinary bladder. It passes whatever obstruction is present, allowing urine to flow into your bladder instead of out in the collection bag.
A stent can be placed by a Urologist, from the bladder up to the kidney, or by an Interventional Radiologist, from the kidney down to the bladder. When place by IR, we use the path formed by the nephrostomy to get the stent into place.
Nephrostomies and stents are also used for patients with infections or injuries to the kidneys or ureters. Another reason for nephrostomy placement is to gain access to the kidney to provide chemotherapy for certain types of tumors