Percutaneous nephrostomy: comparison of sonographic and fluoroscopic guidance.

Both sonography and fluoroscopy have been recommended for renal localization and needle guidance for percutaneous nephrostomy. The respective efficacies of both methods have been compared in a prospective study of 88 patients undergoing percutaneous nephrostomy by the catheter over guide wire technique. Fifty-five patients had initial puncture using either an A-mode (42 patients) or real time (13 patients) sonographic aspiration transducer, while 33 patients had a single plane vertical beam fluoroscopy for puncture guidance. The use of either sonographic method for the initial needle puncture significantly reduced the number of puncture attempts (p = 0.000004) and potential iatrogenic risk, eliminated the need for intravenous administration of contrast material, allowed initial safe introduction of a large caliber needle, and decreased the length of time needed to perform the procedure.