A nephrostomy is a procedure to drain urine from your kidney using a catheter (tube). Urine normally drains from your kidneys into your bladder through small muscular tubes (ureters). Tests have shown that one or both of your ureters has become blocked.
A nephrostomy tube is a thin catheter placed into your kidney to drain urine. You may have one tube in a kidney or two tubes, one in each kidney. The urine collects in a bag attached to the tube. In most cases, the bag is attached to your leg.
If your urine gets blocked, it will stay in your kidney and cause damage to it. A nephrostomy tube is put in to drain the urine directly from your kidney. You may need this tube if you have kidney stones, pelvic tumours, damage to your urinary system or prostate cancer.
A nephrostomy tube is placed on a temporary basis only. It may remain in place for a few days, weeks or months. If it needs to stay for a relatively long period of time, a new one may be placed at intervals.
If the nephrostomy does not appear to be draining, you need to check the tube is not kinked/twisted. Check that the tap on the tube is open and has not been accidentally turned off.
Hydronephrosis is the swelling of a kidney due to a build-up of urine. It happens when urine cannot drain out from the kidney to the bladder from a blockage or obstruction. Hydronephrosis can occur in one or both kidneys. The main function of the urinary tract is to remove wastes and fluid from the body.
Apply gentle and even pressure to instil the saline or water into the nephrostomy tube. Gentle aspiration may be required to dislodge a blockage. However excessive force may cause bleeding. Allow the flush and urine to flow out of the tube with gravity.
Inserting a nephrostomy is a relatively safe procedure and the risk of serious complication is rare. The risks include: severe bleeding (haemorrhage): 1–3% (up to 3 patients in every 100 who have this procedure); tube dislodgement: 1% (up to 1 in every 100 patients who have this procedure);
nephrostomy tubes have a negative impact on the patient's quality of life. During the time they live with these tubes, patients have mild to moderate pain and anxiety.
Operative nephrostomy is a major surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia for, what may be a transitory obstruction and already impaired renal function may make it hazardous.
The condition can increase your chances of getting urinary tract infections (UTIs). In severe cases that are left untreated, the kidneys may become scarred, which could lead to loss of kidney function (kidney failure).
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple. The color change is due to abnormal protein or sugar, high levels of red and white blood cells, and high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.
How do doctors flush your kidneys? Doctors may use diuretics i XWater pills that help remove sodium and water from the body through the kidneys and increase urine production. to flush out the kidneys and remove toxin buildup.
Exercise: Being physically active can help to remove extra fluid by increasing the blood flow to the tissues and make you perspire. Potassium Rich Foods: Having foods abundant in potassium can increase urine production and lower sodium levels, by reducing fluid retention.
The most commonly described complications consist of infection, hemorrhage, and catheter related structural problems—to include misplacement, kinking, and dislodgement. Other typical post-operative complications such as atelectasis, thrombosis, and pneumonia must also be considered.
You may have pain, bruising and discomfort near/around the incision site. This should improve over the next 24-48 hours. Please take painkillers for relief, either at home or ask the nursing staff if in hospital.
This is called a nephrostomy tube or catheter. Urine drains through the tube into a bag outside your body. The bag has a tap so you can empty it. You may still pass some urine in a normal way even when you have a nephrostomy.
Initially dressings and bag changes will be carried out by your District Nurse, however as you become more confident with the nephrostomy tube you may wish to care for it yourself. Once at home with their nephrostomy tube the patient will be able to carry on with day to day activities.
Passing urine
If you have 1 nephrostomy tube we would expect you to pass urine in the normal way as well, as the other kidney will still be draining urine into your bladder. If you have two nephrostomy tubes we would expect the tubes to drain all the urine so passing urine would be unlikely.
The subcutaneous stent avoids the complications of a permanent nephrostomy tube and considerably improves patient quality of life.
Results: Ten of 318 (3.1%) cases sustained a major complication: five had sepsis alone, two haemorrhage (one with sepsis as well) and three patients had a major pelvic injury (one with sepsis as well).
Blockage can usually be relieved, but if relief takes too long, the kidney can be damaged permanently. However, because one normally functioning kidney is enough to sustain the body, permanent kidney failure is unlikely to develop unless both kidneys have been blocked for some time, usually at least a few weeks.