KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to assess nephrostomies’ impact on renal function in patients with malignant pelvic tumors and UUTO.
- Nephrostomies may improve renal function in patients with UUTO caused by pelvic tumors.
Upper urinary tract obstruction (UUTO) often complicates malignant pelvic tumors like ovarian cancer, posing a significant risk to renal function. Nephrostomies are commonly employed to manage UUTO, yet their impact on total renal function (TRF) and split renal function (SRF) remains underexplored.
Katsuhiro Nishimura and the team aimed to evaluate the effects of nephrostomies on TRF and SRF in patients with malignant pelvic tumors complicated by UUTO.
Researchers included patients with severe hydronephrosis due to pelvic tumors treated between 2000 and 2022 were included. Data on nephrostomy placement, short- and long-term kidney function, and imaging studies were gathered.
The study compared TRF and SRF between patients who had a nephrostomy and those who did not. The focus was on the outcome to provide valuable insights for those facing similar conditions.
The results studied 7 patients; among them, 5 were suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 from an ovarian germ cell tumor, and 1 with a malignant rhabdoid tumor. Nephrostomies were placed in 4 patients, significantly improving the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by the end of treatment, without severe infections.
In contrast, patients without nephrostomies saw no eGFR improvement. Nuclear imaging (renograms or renal scintigrams) showed impaired SRF in the affected kidney, even when eGFR was normal, with 1 nephrostomy patient showing SRF improvement over time.
The study concluded that nephrostomy for UUTO due to pelvic tumors may enhance renal outcomes, showing improved renal function and offering potential benefits for patients compared to those who did not undergo the procedure.
The study received no funding.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39158590/
Nishimura, K., Takenouchi, A., Komatsu, S., et al. (2024). “Effect of emergent nephrostomy on long-term total and split renal function in patients with upper urinary tract obstruction due to pelvic malignant tumors.” Pediatric Surgery International, 40(1), 234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-024-05810-0
