[Obstruction of double-J catheter. Obstruction of urinary drainage in the renal unit with double-J catheter. Two different concepts].

We report on three patients with a functioning solitary kidney that required placement of a double-J catheter. All three patients presented with obstruction of urinary drainage within three weeks. In one patient clots were observed inside the catheter. The catheters of the other two patients, however, showed no signs of obstruction. Two patients presented symptoms and signs of reduced volume of diuresis and the other a deteriorated general condition. In patients with a normally functioning contralateral renal unit, deterioration of renal function of the unit with an indwelling double-J catheter may probably go undetected. A compromised urinary drainage of the renal unit with an indwelling double-J catheter is not necessarily associated with obstruction of the catheter lumen. Urinary drainage around an obstructed double-J catheter is not sufficient in all cases.