Pitfalls of subcapsular nephrectomy: Report of a case with point of technique to avoid urinary fistula formation

• Main Authors: Nayyar R, Singh P, Gupta N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
• Subjects: Methylene blue; nephrectomy; subcapsular nephrectomy; urinary fistula
• Online Access: http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=2010;volume=56;issue=1;spage=24;epage=26;aulast=Nayyar

Nephrectomy after pyonephrosis, repeated acute pyelonephritis or chronic pyelonephritis is a challenge for any surgeon, owing to adhesions around the kidney. We encountered an unusual case of post-nephrectomy urinary fistula, as a complication of subcapsular nephrectomy. This occurred as a result of residual renal tissue after nephrectomy, which was subsequently excised using methylene blue as an aid to ensure complete excision. Such a complication has never been reported in existing literature. We reviewed the literature for any such related complications to gather an insight to its occurrence and also present a simple point of technique to avoid such a catastrophe.