title: Practical experience with percutaneous nephrostomy: avoidance of common technical pitfalls.
abstract: In our 18-month experience with percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) at Vanderbilt University Hospital and Veterans Administration Hospital (Nashville), a total of 47 PCNs were attempted with a success rate of 96%. The procedure is rapid, offers low morbidity, and has been readily accepted. Some variations of the standard procedure to avoid common technical difficulties include (1) using a combination of real-time ultrasonography and fluoroscopy as a guidance system, (2) maintaining the position of the Chiba needle during the entire procedure, (3) choosing the optimal puncture site, and (4) exercising care in tract dilatation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D014546:Urinary Catheterization