A ‘Split-Away Technique’ for Percutaneous Nephrostomy

Abstract

The currently used techniques for nephrostomy sometimes fail to advance the drainage catheter through the nephrostomy track into the renal pelvis. To solve this problem a new technique has been developed. The improvement with this technique is the dilatation of the track with polypropylene dilators and a split-away sheath. The split-away sheath is threaded on the largest dilator. When the dilator is removed the drainage catheter is coaxially passed through the split-away sheath into the renal pelvis. The sheath is then removed. The technique has been used successfully in 32 patients without complications.