Search

An 87-year-old man undergoing radical cystectomy and bilateral nephrostomy visited our hospital 19 days postoperatively because of a lack of urine flow from the left 14-Fr Malecot nephrostomy catheter. The catheter was apparently firmly anchored to the kidney, and an attempt to reposition the catheter failed. Three-dimensional computed tomography volume rendering indicated a deformity of the left catheter compared with the right, implying that something was lodged in the Malecot flanges. Surgical removal of the catheter 2 days later revealed granulation tissue overbridging the Malecot wings. We cut the tissue, and the catheter was successfully exchanged.

A case of entrapped nephrostomy tube in a 61-year-old woman who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and subsequent multiple ESWL for a left staghorn stone is presented. A nephrostomy track was created alongside the Malecot catheter and the overgrown tissue which was bridging the wings of the tube was incised with a Sachse urethrotome. To prevent this complication the wings of the Malecot should freely expand in the renal collecting system and the catheter should stay in situ for no more than 3 weeks. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]