Significance of percutaneous nephrostomy in children

Abstract

Percutaneous nephrostomy is a well established and very efficient method of the drainage of the obstructed kidney. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous nephrostomy in children. Percutaneous nephrostomy has been performed on 16 kidneys in 10 patients (2 girls, 8 boys) aged 9 months to 13 years (average 5.07 ± 3.45 years). Underlying abnormalities were grade V vesicoureteral reflux (2 patients), bilateral ureterove-sical junction obstruction (2), bilateral pelviureteric junction obstruction(i), unilateral ureterovesical junction obstruction^), supravesical obstruction (1) and solitary kidney with uretrovesical junction obstruction (2). The duration of catheter insertion was between 2 days and 11 months (average 6.17 ± 3.16 months). Mean urea and creatinine levels decreased to 46.62 ± 19.40 mg/dl and 0.81 ± 0.31 mg/dl from 67.62 ± 38.43 mg/dl and 1.32 ± 0.72 mg/dl, respectively. Mean Hb and Hct levels increased to 12.27± 0.98 gr/dl and 36.72 ± 2.72 % from 10.02 ± 1.87 gr/dl and 30.97 ± 3.96 %, respectively. Mean weight and height values increased to 20.062 ± 13.405 kg and 104.87 ± 20.29 cm from 18.000 ± 13.062 kg and 99.68 ± 20.80 cm, respectively. The complications were hematuria (3 cases), infection (3) and displacement of the catheter (3). In conclusion, percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement is easy, safe and efficient procedure with a few complications in childhood.