Percutaneous Nephrostomy: Native and Transplanted Kidneys

Percutaneous nephrostomy is a procedure in which access to the renal collecting system of a native (nontransplanted) or transplanted kidney is obtained through the skin, providing external drainage and/or a portal for additional minimally invasive procedures. Such additional minimal invasive procedures include nephrolithotripsy, ureteric stent placement, ureteric dilation, ureteric embolization/obliteration, and rendezvous procedures with cystoscopy. Percutaneous nephrostomy has been proven to be an effective and safe minimally invasive image-guided procedure. This article discusses the indications, techniques, imaging guidance modalities, and outcomes related to percutaneous nephrostomy. Extensions of the nephrostomy procedures, such as ureteric stent placement and nephro–ureteral stent placement are discussed in subsequent articles in this issue.