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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Experience with palliative percutaneous nephrostomy in bladder cancer patients

subject

description

Minimal percutaneous nephrostomy as a palliative urinary diversion was performed in 50 patients with advanced bladder cancer disease. The average survival time was 6.6 months, with 38% of the patients alive after 6 months. Although 88% of the patients died within one year, 2 (5%) are still alive after more than 2 years. Each case of palliative diversion is an individual one, with many different factors influencing the decision. Prolonging life cannot be an indication for diversion. Percutaneous nephrostomy in combination with other percutaneous techniques provides the urologist with excellent therapeutic tools to avoid surgery in such emergency situations as uremia or local tumor symptoms. This may offer these patients more peace in their last days of life.