Interventional uroradiologic procedures.
Fifteen years ago, most genitourinary procedures were performed only in ORs. Advances in imaging and minimal access surgery (MAS) techniques offer patients a choice between open surgical procedures that often require lengthy hospital stays or interventional uroradiologic procedures that can be performed on an outpatient basis. Percutaneous nephrostomy procedures are one of the most common interventional uroradiologic procedures performed in radiology departments today. A percutaneous nephrostomy tube is passed under fluoroscopic guidance through the skin and into the renal pelvis to drain urine for patients with obstructions above their bladders or with strictured or nonfunctional ureters. These MAS procedures are safe and cost-effective and usually can be performed with i.v. conscious sedation and local anesthesia.