Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute urinary conditions

Obstruction of the upper urinary tract is common and shows no signs of decreasing incidence. Investigating obstruction requires knowledge of how the upper tract functions and how, when normal function is compromised by obstruction, imaging findings will differ from normality. Radiologists need to define the extent of obstruction, its likely duration and whether intervention is needed to relieve the obstruction and what form that intervention may take. Percutaneous nephrostomy is the most common interventional therapeutic technique performed and should be available in any acute hospital. It is not a procedure that is in the sole domain of uroradiologists. Close co-operation with urologists is essential.