[The scope and value of translumbar puncture of the renal pelvis (author's transl)].

Percutaneous translumbar pyelography is indicated when excretory urography has failed to demonstrate the cause or site of obstructive uropathy and retrograde pyelography is impossible, undesirable or contraindicated. Under prophylactic treatment with antibiotics translumbar antegrade pyelography is safe, simple and accurate and in selected cases the only diagnostic method to establish exact diagnosis without which appropriate therapy cannot be planned. The method is described and the results of 30 percutaneous translumbar pyelographies obtained from 2680 renal angiographies and 230 punctures of space-occupying lesions over 13 years are reported.