Role of Percutaneous Nephrostomy in Bladder Carcinoma with Obstructive Uropathy: A Story Revisited

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) in patients of carcinoma bladder presenting with obstructive uropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated medical records of 33 patients of bladder cancer with obstructive uropathy that presented to a tertiary care hospital in north India from January 2015 to December 2016. Outcome measures included technical success rates, change in blood urea and serum creatinine (measured on Day 1, 7, and 14); and complications of PCN according to Society of Interventional Radiology Guidelines for Percutaneous Nephrostomy. RESULTS: PCN was done in 30 patients. The mean age of patients was 51 years (range 42-67). 24 patients were male and 6 patients were female. The technical success rates for PCN placement were 93.33%. In 12 patients there was no improvement after PCN insertion. Improvement in clinical condition/kidney function occurred in 18 patients. Out of these 6 patients underwent radical cystectomy with ileal conduit formation and palliative radiotherapy/chemotherapy was given to 5 cases. In the remaining 7 patients, after an initial improvement that lasted for 2 weeks after PCN progressive renal dysfunction developed due to malignancy. Minor complications of PCN were seen in 16.6% of patients and major complications were seen in 10 % of cases. CONCLUSION: In selected patients with bladder carcinoma with obstructive uropathy, PCN insertion may improve kidney function tests to normal levels and enable them to receive tumor-specific curative/palliative treatment.