RIGHT
ATRIAL MIGRATION OF NEPHROSTOMY CATHETER
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ADERIVALDO C. DIAS-FILHO, GUILHERME A.V. COARACY, WALLACE BORGES
Urological Unit, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
ABSTRACT
Percutaneous tube nephrostomy (PTN) placement is associated with bleeding complications in a small proportion of cases. We study a case of inadvertent renal vein catheterization during PTN tube change with catheter right atrial migration treated by fluoroscopically monitored catheter removal.
Key
words: nephrostomy, percutaneous; catheter; migration; right
atrium
Int Braz J Urol. 2005; 31: 470-1
CASE REPORT
A
63-year-old female who previously underwent pelvic external beam radiotherapy
for the treatment of uterine cervical carcinoma that was complicated by
distal ureteral obstruction, underwent a CT-guided left percutaneous tube
nephrostomy (PTN) in August 2003. The catheter was being periodically
changed over a guidewire. In March 2004, she came to the urology emergency
room 3 days after losing the catheter, with urine dripping from the nephrostomy
orifice. A 6F silicone catheter was negotiated with subsequent urine drainage.
After 8 hours, this catheter was removed and a new nephrostomy was attempted
over a 0.035" angiographic guidewire inserted through the tract,
without radiological monitoring. The tract was dilated under local anesthesia,
a silicone 12F Foley catheter was placed there, and the balloon filled
with 3 mL of diluted contrast.
After 1 hour, brisk bleeding was noted through
the catheter, which eventually stopped due to tube obstruction from clotted
blood. The patient felt dizziness, dyspnea and palpitations, but remained
hemodynamically stable. A renal ultrasound did not show any perirenal
fluid collection, but failed to locate the catheter. An abdominal CT displayed
the catheter piercing the kidney’s parenchyma, into the left renal
vein and up the inferior vena cava (Figure-1). Chest radiography showed
the Foley’s balloon inflated on the topography of the right atrium
(Figure-2). The balloon was deflated and brought about immediate resolution
of her symptoms. A Doppler echocardiogram did not demonstrate atrial thrombi.
With a cardiac surgery and anesthesiology team standing by, and with hemodynamic
non-invasive monitoring, the catheter was pulled back under fluoroscopic
visualization. After 5 days, a new CT-guided left PTN was successfully
placed under local anesthesia.
COMMENTS
Although
hemorrhagic complications in PTN are not uncommon (1,2), interventional
treatment is not often necessary; renal artery angiography and embolization
is required in 0.8% of the cases in a very large series (3). We were unable
to find another report of inadvertent renal vein catheterization during
PTN. We suspect that the following chain of events took place: the guidewire
perforated a major intrarenal tributary of the left renal vein, the dilation
was performed through this injury and the catheter was placed inside the
vessel, which simply followed the bloodstream to the right atrium. The
patient’s coagulation mechanisms were able not only to obstruct
the catheter but also to avoid the formation of atrial thrombi and consequent
pulmonary embolism.
The lesson learned from this case is that
one should never manipulate nephrostomy tract without radiological orientation,
even if urine is dripping from the skin orifice. The tract to the renal
pelvis might be closed to instrumentation, and even the most delicate
instrument is capable of injuring important structures, often with the
direst consequences.
REFERENCES
- McDougall EM, Liatsikos EM, Dinlenc CZ, Smith AD: Percutaneous Approaches to the Upper Urinary Tract. In: Campbell’s Urology, 8th ed., Walsh PC et al. (eds.), Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 2002; pp. 3337-40.
- Farrell TA, Hicks ME: A review of radiologically guided percutaneous nephrostomies in 303 patients. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 1997; 8: 769-74.
- Kessaris DN, Bellman GC, Pardalidis NP, Smith AG: Management of hemorrhage after percutaneous renal surgery. J Urol. 1995; 153: 604-8.
_______________________
Received: January 21, 2005
Accepted after revision: June 22, 2005
_______________________
Correspondence address:
Dr. Aderivaldo C. Dias-Filho
Setor Medico Hospitalar Sul, Q 101, Bl A
Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal
Brasilia, DF, 70335-000, Brazil
E-mail: vadocabral@gmail.com