Palliative Subcutaneous Tunneled Nephrostomy Tube (PSTN): a simple and effective technique for management of malignant extrinsic ureteral obstruction.

The establishment and maintenance of effective urinary tract drainage for patients with malignant extrinsic ureteric obstruction is a formidable challenge for the urologist. We have utilized an alternative method of urinary diversion, called Palliative Subcutaneous Tunneled Nephrostomy Tubes (PSTN), for long term urinary tract drainage when intracoropreal stenting has failed or is not tolerated. PSTN provides a simple and effective method of external urinary diversion and preservation of renal function. This technique should be an option in the armamentarium of urologists for management of malignant ureteral obstruction.