A nephrostomy is an artificial opening created between the kidney and the skin which allows for the urinary diversion directly from the upper part of the urinary system. An urostomy is a related procedure performed more distally along the urinary system to provide urinary diversion.

What does nephrostomy mean in medical terms?

Listen to pronunciation. (neh-FROS-toh-mee) Surgery to make an opening from the outside of the body to the renal pelvis (part of the kidney that collects urine). This may be done to drain urine from a blocked kidney or blocked ureter into a bag outside the body.

How long can you live with a nephrostomy?

Results: The median survival time of the patients was 255 days, while median catheterization time was 62 days. The majority of patients (84) died with the catheter.