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[Percutaneous nephrostomy in malignant ureteral obstruction]
1Urologische Klinik, Leopoldina-Krankenhaus der Stadt Schweinfurt.
Objective:
To assess survival length and quality of life in patients with a percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) for malignant tumour and postrenal anuria.
Patients And Methods:
Case records were analysed of 50 patients (39 men, eleven women; mean age 65.6 years) with postrenal anuria due to malignancy who had undergone ultrasound-directed PN under local anaesthesia for urinary drainage. Particular attention was paid to the course of the disease from nephrostomy until death.
Results:
Survival time after PN ranged from 4 days to 16 months, averaging 4.3 months. 26 patients (52%) had died after 3 months, 41 (82%) after 6 months. The patients had spent on average 44.5% of their remaining life in hospital. After an initial improvement in their state, cancer-produced pain and complications soon set in and often required operative intervention.
Conclusion:
The achieved prolongation of survival time did not always meet the patient's own wishes. Detailed explanation and information to patient and family before PN is therefore urgently required.