After we have put in a nephrostomy catheter

A nephrostomy catheter is a small tube that we can put through the skin into your kidney to drain urine (pee).

What happens after the procedure

After we have put in a nephrostomy catheter, you usually stay in the recovery room until your ward nurse collects you.

You need to stay in bed for 4 to 6 hours or the time that your nurse recommends. We regularly check:

• your blood pressure, pulse and the oxygen level in your blood
• the area where we put in the catheter

Be careful not to knock the catheter tube out of position.

You can eat and drink as usual, unless your nurse gives you different advice.

Your follow-up care

You may need to return to the interventional radiology (IR) department a few days after the procedure. We can then check if your kidney drains adequately.

The IR doctor injects a contrast agent into the catheter. This is a substance used to make structures in the body show clearly on scans. Using imaging machines, the IR doctor can then see how well your kidney is improving. This follow-up test is called a nephrostogram.

In some cases, you may not need a follow-up appointment in the interventional radiology (IR) department. You then see your kidney specialist for follow-up care.

Future treatment options

A nephrostomy catheter is usually a temporary treatment. Your doctor may decide that you do not need any more treatment when your kidney has been drained. 

Otherwise, your doctor might think about other treatment options that are suitable for you. This depends on what is causing the blockage in the ureter.

Ureteric stent

We can put a tube called a ureteric stent across the blockage. This tube holds the ureter open and passes from the kidney into the bladder.

We place the ureteric stent through the catheter already attached to you. Sometimes, we may do this procedure when we put in your nephrostomy catheter. We talk you about this in advance.

Your doctor decides when the ureteric stent can be removed.

Surgery

Another option is doing surgery to treat the blockage.

Removing a nephrostomy catheter

The IR doctor and your doctor who referred you for the procedure decide when to remove the nephrostomy catheter.

There is no set time for when the nephrostomy catheter should be removed. Every person's case is different. You have regular blood tests and possibly more ultrasounds or CT scans. This helps us to decide the right time to remove the catheter.

We may need to replace your nephrostomy catheter with a new one before finally removing it. A catheter usually lasts for about 3 months. We replace it to:

• prevent a blockage (occlusion)
• reduce the risk of infection