Replacement of nephrostomy tube using ureteroscopes

Replacement of a percutaneous nephrostomy tube can be a difficult task. The often time-consuming procedure involves replacement of a guide wire blindly or under fluoroscopic control, or by using ultrasound after decompression of hydronephrosis. A rigid 8.5F ureteroscope was used successfully to replace nephrostomy tubes in 3 patients with obstructive uropathy secondary to prostate carcinoma and in 1 with an ileoureteral anastomotic leak following radical cystectomy.