1.Diagnosis and treatment of intravenous misplacement of the nephrostomy tube following percutaneous renal surgery
Xiaofeng CHEN ; Yihua ZOU ; Wanglong DENG ; Liangyu XU ; Zeyuan PAN ; Bihua DENG ; Jianjun ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Urology 2023;44(1):47-51
Objective:To investigate the management of patients with intravenous misplacement of nephrostomy tube following percutaneous renal surgery.Methods:The data of 6 patients with intravenous misplacement of nephrostomy tube during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) treated in the two hospitals of Chenzhou from January 2006 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 41.0(38.5, 53.0) years old. There were 4 males and 2 females. Three patients had undergone contralateral upper urinary tract operation. One patient had undergone ipsilateral upper urinary tract operation. Two patients had not undergone upper urinary tract operation. Two of the 6 patients had a solitary kidney. Two patients were diagnosed with staghorn calculi (combined with mild hydronephrosis in 1 patient, moderate hydronephrosis in 1 patient). Four patients were diagnosed with ureteral calculus (combined with mild hydronephrosis in 2 patients, moderate hydronephrosis in 1 patient, severe hydronephrosis in 1 patient). In all 6 patients, the tract was dilated with fascial dilators. Immediately after dilator removal, brisk venous bleeding was noted. A nephrostomy tube was inserted promptly through the sheath to tamponade the tract and was immediately closed. Five cases were diagnosed by CT after operation, and 1 case was early diagnosed by intraoperative injection of contrast medium through nephrostomy tube. The nephrostomy tube was misplaced in 5 patients with left upper urinary tract calculi, and in 1 patient with right upper urinary tract calculi. The tip of nephrostomy tube was located in ipsilateral renal vein in 3 patients with left upper urinary tract calculus, inferior vena cava in 2 patients with left upper urinary tract calculus, and contralateral renal vein in 1 patient with right upper urinary tract calculus. No venous thrombosis of renal vein or inferior vena cava was founded in the 6 patients. All 6 patients were managed with strict bed rest, intravenous antibiotics, and one-step or two-step tube withdrawal under close monitoring. One step method referred to total removal of nephrostomy tube under ultrasonic monitoring. Two step method referred to retracting the end of nephrostomy tube into the renal sinus under CT monitoring in the first step, then the nephrostomy tube was completely removed under ultrasound monitoring.Results:All 6 patients were successfully managed with strict bed rest, intravenous antibiotics, and one-step or two-step tube withdrawal under close monitoring. The tube was withdrew by one-step method in 1 patient, by two-step method in 5 patients. The original operations were performed successfully under close observation in 4 patients during the same hospitalization and in 1 patient during the next hospitalization. Other type of operation in 1 patient was performed during the next hospitalization. The all 6 patients were discharged uneventfully. The stone was cleared.Conclusions:Intravenous misplacement of a nephrostomy tube is mainly diagnosed by CT. The nephrostomy tube should be sealed immediately after diagnosis. The intravenously misplaced nephrostomy tube can be successfully removed by one-step or two-step withdrawing under close monitoring. Upper urinary tract stones can be successfully treated at the same time or by stages.