Percutaneous nephropyelostomy under continuous real-time ultrasound guidance

Fifty-five percutaneous nephrostomies in 40 patients under ultrasound guidance are reported. Twenty-six procedures were performed using a compound scanner and 29 were performed under real-time guidance. Fifty of the 55 procedures were successful. The puncture modalities of both techniques are compared and it was concluded that only real-time guidance permits the continuous two-dimensional visual control of the procedure. It is, therefore, the safer and more precise technique for establishing a percutaneous nephrostomy.