A Nephrostomy is a procedure where a small, flexible drain is placed directly through your back into your kidney. This allows urine to flow out of your body into a small collection bag when the normal path is blocked.
Common Indications for Nephrostomy
Your doctor may urgently request this if you have:
- A severe blockage in your ureter (the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder) caused by kidney stones, tumors, or scar tissue.
- A serious kidney infection trapped behind a blockage.
- Failing kidneys that need to be drained immediately to recover.
What happens during the procedure?
You will lie flat on your stomach. Using ultrasound and X-ray imaging, the radiologist finds the exact location of your kidney. The skin on your back is numbed, and you will receive relaxing IV medicine. The doctor guides a fine needle into the kidney, followed by a thin plastic tube. The tube is secured to your skin and connected to a drainage bag.
How do I care for the tube at home?
- Keep the bag lower than your kidneys at all times to prevent urine from backing up.
- Gently clean the skin around the tube every day with soap and water.
- Keep the dressing dry and change it regularly as instructed.
- Never pull on the tube.
- Empty the bag before it gets completely full.
What signs mean I should call my doctor?
Contact your medical team right away if:
- The tube stops draining urine or starts leaking onto your skin — this means it may be blocked or dislodged.
- You develop a fever, chills, or new flank pain — these are signs of infection.
Conclusion
A nephrostomy tube provides an immediate, safe escape route for trapped urine, relieving pressure on your kidneys and allowing infections to clear up rapidly.