[Clinical and morphologic aspects of balloon catheter nephrostomy]

During 23 years in the County Hospitel St. Georg Leipzig 500 nephrostomies were performed. A definitive balloon catheter nephrostomy was performed 58 times. Exclusively the open transparenchymatous establishment was carried out. If no malignant basic disease shortens the survival time, the renal fistulae are tolerated for many years without greater restriction of the renal function. The longest time of observation of a fistulated solitary kidney is about 17 years. The complication rate is small and the psychic stress of the patient as well as the quality of life obtained are tolerable. A preoperative intensive talk with the patient with adequate explanation and alternative demonstration is necessary in every case. An epithelial lining of the channel of the fistula does not take place even after years. The squamous cell epithelium of the external skin and the urothelium of the renal calyces grow only a few centimeters into the fistula. This is lined by inflammatory granulation tissue.