title: Frequency of complications in image guided percutaneous nephrostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency of complications in image-guided percutaneous nephrostomy and to identify common sources of error.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, between November 2006 and May 2007. Patients of all age groups between 1 and 80 years were included using nonprobability convenience sampling technique. Those suffering from obstructive uropathy due to various causes were diagnosed by imaging modalities like ultrasound, computed tomography scan, conventional X-ray and contrast studies. It also included cases where percutaneous nephrostomy was used to temporarily divert urine in the presence of urinary tract leaks and fistula so that healing may occur. Patients with uncorrectable bleeding diathesis were excluded. Nephrostomies performed for supplementary procedures were also excluded. One-month follow-up was performed by means of direct communications and using various imaging modalities. SPSS 12 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred patients enrolled in the study. The procedure was successful in all encounters. The complications were categorised as early and late complications. Early complications were sepsis in 6 (2%) patients, retroperitoneal haematoma in 5 (1.6%) patients, bleeding in 2 (0.6%), and urinoma in 1 (0.3%). Late complications included catheter blockage in 15 (5%) patients, and dislodgement of catheter in 7 (2.3%). Total early complications were noted in 14 (4.66%) patients, and there were 22 (7.33%) late complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous nephrostomy is a safe, simple and cost-effective technique with low morbidity and no major life-threatening complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi. mubarakali@dr.com
authors.forename: Syed Mubarak
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehmood
authors.forename: Syed Muhammed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Faiq
authors.forename: Bux
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Syed Ali Anwar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.forename: Adib-ul-Hasan
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Rizvi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult