Intravenous misplacement of nephrostomy tube following percutaneous nephrolithotomy: Three new cases and review of seven cases in the literature.

PURPOSE We investigated the characteristics and management of patients with intravenous misplacement of a nephrostomy tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between July 2007 and July 2013, 4148 patients with urolithiasis underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in our hospital. Intravenous misplacement of a nephrostomy tube occurred in two of these patients. Another patient with intravenous misplacement of a nephrostomy tube, who underwent PCNL in another hospital, was transferred to our hospital. The data of the three patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS The incidence of intravenous misplacement of a nephrostomy tube following PCNL was 0.5% (2/4148) at our hospital. A solitary kidney was present in one of the three patients. The tip of tube was located into the inferior vena cava (IVC) in two patients and into the renal vein in one patient. All three patients were successfully managed with strict bed rest, intravenous antibiotics and one-step (one patient) or two-step (two patients) tube withdrawal under close monitoring. None of the patients underwent antithrombotic therapy. The original operations were performed successfully under close observation in two patients and changed to another operation in one patient. All patients were discharged uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of intravenous misplacement of a nephrostomy tube following PCNL is 0.5% at our hospital. Intravenous nephrostomy tube misplacement is an uncommon complication of PCNL. A solitary kidney may render patients susceptible to this complication. Most patients may be managed conservatively with strict bed rest, intravenous antibiotics and one-step or two-step tube withdrawal under close monitoring.