Percutaneous nephrostomy: techniques, indications, and results.

During the past six years at our institution, percutaneous nephrostomy has been utilized for temporary diversion of the upper urinary tract in 33 patients and 42 individual kidneys. Two techniques are described, one of which has been developed recently by one of us (A.R.G.). Indications and results, including complications, are discussed. In our experience this procedure has been found to be safe and highly useful in the management of selected patients who have unilateral or bilateral urinary tract obstruction from a variety of reasons.