Nephrostomy Tube Placement: Basic to Advanced

In this episode, Dr. David Field joins Dr. Aaron Fritts to discuss nephrostomy tube placement. We talk about the most common indications for this procedure, and Dr. Field explains why he prefers the single stick technique over the double stick technique. We discuss why it is important to scan the patient with ultrasound before preparing them for the nephrostomy tube placement.

We give some tips for trainees on the process of inserting the needle, and we review the dangers of over-pressurizing. We discuss how much blood in the urine is worrisome, managing anticoagulation meds, and which labs to run prior to the nephrostomy tube placement. Dr. Field tells us about using guidance software and how to properly direct the needle, once inside the patient.

We discuss why you might inject air rather than contrast. We emphasize the importance of working with urology ahead of time and what post-op care looks like for different types of patients. Dr. Field gives some advice when dealing with the challenges of nephrostomy tube placement, and we give trainees some general advice on this procedure.