Nephrostomy tube is a tube placed into the kidney through the body wall in the flank region. It is used to drain the urine from the kidney in cases where ureteric obstruction is present and retrograde access via the ureter is not possible or inadvisable. It is commonly placed in pyonephrosis and after Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

If you are on anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents then inform your doctor before the procedure. The Procedure is carried out under local or spinal anesthesia under flouroscopic guidance.The tube is then connected to a collecting bag. The patient is generally sent home within 24 hrs. A record of the urine output from the tube should be maintained by the patient for every 24 hrs. Notify the doctor immediately if urine stops draining from the tube, if there is dislodgement of the tube or if the patient has fever with chills.