Concierge interventional radiology · UK
Percutaneous nephrostomy - image-guided drainage of a blocked kidney.
A thin catheter, placed through the skin under ultrasound and fluoroscopy, that drains urine from an obstructed or infected kidney - delivered by a consultant interventional radiologist, coordinated with your urologist.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant interventional radiologist, in a proper IR suite
Nephrostomy is an image-guided procedure - done under ultrasound and fluoroscopy by a named IR consultant, not squeezed onto a general list.
- 02
Urology and IR speaking to each other
A blocked kidney is never just an IR job. We coordinate the urologist, the IR team and, where relevant, oncology or palliative care in one plan.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation - nephrostomy, JJ stent or something else - is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private nephrostomy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner IR units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A day-case nephrostomy in our network: £2,500–£4,000, with catheter exchanges every 2–3 months.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percutaneous nephrostomy insertion (day-case) | £2,500–£4,000 | 30–60 min | Same day |
| Nephrostomy insertion with overnight stay | £3,500–£5,000 | 30–60 min | 1 night |
| Bilateral nephrostomy | £4,500–£7,500 | 60–90 min | Same day |
| Routine catheter change (per exchange) | £600–£1,200 | 15–30 min | Same visit |
| Antegrade JJ stent (via nephrostomy tract) | £3,500–£6,000 | 45–75 min | Same day |
| IR consultation only | £250–£450 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by the consultant IR doing the case, by whether an overnight stay is needed, and by whether a JJ stent is placed at the same time. Community nursing after discharge is usually billed separately.
The problem
A blocked kidney is a time-critical decision, not a booking exercise.
Obstructive AKI and pyonephrosis are among the most under-recognised urological emergencies in the UK. The choice between nephrostomy and JJ stent - and how quickly it is made - matters more than the plumbing.
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Infected obstructed kidney?
Pyonephrosis is a septic emergency. Drainage is needed before antibiotics can work - often within hours, not days.
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Failed JJ stent at cystoscopy?
Where retrograde stenting has not worked, nephrostomy from above buys time - and an antegrade stent can follow.
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Advanced malignancy?
Long-term nephrostomy can protect kidney function and quality of life - coordinated with oncology and palliative care.
The journey
From enquiry to community nursing - what happens, in order.
One coordinated team - IR, urology and community nursing - from first message through routine catheter exchanges.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
In the IR suite, home the same day
Phase 3 · After
Community nursing + IR reviews
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, latest scans, the underlying cause - stone, tumour, post-surgical - and any signs of infection.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: nephrostomy or retrograde JJ stent, urgency, indicative price, and the consultant IR and urologist who would do the case.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Urgent slots for pyonephrosis or obstructive AKI within 24 hours where clinically appropriate. Anticoagulation is reviewed with the team.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Consent, bloods checked (clotting, U+Es), IV access, and a chat with the IR consultant and anaesthetist about sedation.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
30 to 60 minutes in the IR suite - ultrasound and fluoroscopy guidance, local anaesthetic with light sedation, pigtail catheter secured, external bag connected.
- 06
On the day
Recovery on the ward
Observation for a few hours or an overnight stay. Community nurse training on bag care, dressing changes, and what to watch for.
- 07
After
Community nursing and IR review
District nurse support at home, routine catheter change every 2–3 months in the IR suite, and a clear plan for the definitive treatment underneath.
Urgent cases: within 24 hours. Elective: 3–7 days. Routine exchanges: every 2–3 months.
When it helps
When percutaneous nephrostomy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the emergency indication - pyonephrosis - that means hours, not days.
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Ureteric obstruction
A blocked ureter from a stone, tumour compression, retroperitoneal fibrosis, iatrogenic injury or extrinsic pressure - urine cannot drain.
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Pyonephrosis (infected obstructed kidney)
A urological emergency - a blocked, infected kidney can trigger sepsis. Drainage is needed before antibiotics can work properly.
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Ureteric fistula
A leak from the ureter - post-surgical, post-radiation or iatrogenic. Diverting urine away lets the tissue heal.
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Failed retrograde JJ stent
When a stent cannot be placed via the bladder at cystoscopy, nephrostomy provides drainage from above - often with antegrade stenting later.
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Access for stone surgery (PCNL)
A percutaneous tract into the kidney is used for percutaneous nephrolithotomy - a route to remove larger or complex stones.
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Chemotherapy instillation
Direct instillation into the upper tract - for example, BCG for upper-tract urothelial carcinoma - via the nephrostomy tract.
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Urinary diversion
A bridge while awaiting definitive treatment - stone removal, tumour therapy, or reconstructive surgery of the ureter.
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Long-term drainage for advanced disease
For non-treatable obstruction in advanced malignancy, a nephrostomy can protect kidney function and quality of life long-term.
Procedure options
Nephrostomy is not the only option.
What each option on the table actually involves - and which fits which cause of obstruction.
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Unilateral nephrostomy
A single drainage catheter into the obstructed kidney - the most common scenario for a one-sided ureteric block.
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Bilateral nephrostomy
Both kidneys drained - used when both ureters are obstructed, typically by pelvic malignancy or retroperitoneal disease.
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Retrograde JJ stent (alternative)
A ureteric stent placed at cystoscopy from below - less invasive than nephrostomy, no external bag, but not always technically possible.
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Antegrade JJ stent
Where retrograde stenting has failed, a stent is passed through the nephrostomy tract into the bladder - often internalising the drainage later.
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Nephrostomy for PCNL access
A larger tract (12–14Fr) placed for percutaneous stone surgery - a working channel rather than long-term drainage.
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Emergency nephrostomy for pyonephrosis
Urgent decompression of an infected obstructed kidney - often the difference between recovery and septic shock.
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Routine catheter exchange
A quick fluoroscopy-guided swap of the pigtail catheter every 2–3 months - keeps the tract patent and reduces encrustation.
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IR consultation only
An honest review of your scans with a consultant IR - nephrostomy is not always the right answer, and we say so.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of interventional radiologists, we picked them.
Consultant IR teams in London and the major regional cities, working alongside urology and community nursing. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every IR team in our network.
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Consultant interventional radiologists, not trainees or generalists
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Full IR suites with combined ultrasound and fluoroscopy guidance
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Urology, IR, oncology and palliative care coordinated in one plan
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Community nursing support arranged before you leave the ward
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Nephrostomy has a technical success rate above 95% in experienced hands. The things worth planning are bag care, catheter exchanges, and knowing which symptoms need same-day help.
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Local anaesthetic with light sedation
Nephrostomy is almost always done under LA with a small dose of sedation. General anaesthetic is rarely needed and reserved for specific cases.
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Bleeding is uncommon but real
Modern ultrasound and fluoroscopy make bleeding rare. A pseudoaneurysm is unusual and, if it occurs, is usually managed by embolisation the same day.
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Sepsis risk when the kidney is infected
Manipulating an infected obstructed kidney can trigger sepsis - antibiotics, IV fluids and a careful, unhurried technique reduce this.
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Bag care becomes part of your routine
Urine drains continuously into an external bag. Emptied 2–3 times a day, and the bag itself is changed on a regular schedule with the community team.
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Catheter change every 2–3 months
A quick exchange in the IR suite keeps the catheter patent and reduces encrustation and infection. Missed changes are the main cause of blockage.
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Waterproof dressing for the shower
Showering is fine with a waterproof dressing. Bathing, swimming and hot tubs are off the list while the catheter is in place.
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Rare complications to know about
Pneumothorax (upper-pole puncture), colonic perforation (retrocolic kidney) and urinoma are all rare. The IR consultant is trained to recognise and manage each.
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Dislodgement matters - and is preventable
A well-secured catheter and good stitch technique reduce dislodgement. If a tract closes, re-insertion can be harder - securing the catheter well is worth the effort.
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Red flags
Fever, rigors, heavy bleeding around the catheter, no urine draining for more than a few hours, or spreading redness are all reasons to call the IR team or A&E the same day.
Reading your IR procedure note
Your IR note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever indication led to the nephrostomy, the note the interventional radiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
IR language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and side
Why the nephrostomy was placed - obstruction, sepsis, fistula - and which kidney, with the underlying cause noted.
- 02 Technique
Access, guidance and catheter
Ultrasound and fluoroscopy guidance, the calyx accessed, catheter size (usually 8Fr for drainage, larger for PCNL) and how it was secured.
- 03 Findings
Drainage, contrast study and cultures
Urine appearance on drainage, findings on the nephrostogram (contrast study), and any samples sent for culture.
- 04 Impression
Plan, exchange interval and definitive treatment
Read this first: how long the nephrostomy is expected to stay, when the next exchange is due, and the plan for the underlying obstruction.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Nephrostomy is usually covered by UK PMI when medically indicated. Ongoing community nursing and routine exchanges may sit under different cover - we confirm both before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about nephrostomy.
Quick answers on urgency, alternatives, cost, bag care and long-term outlook.
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What is a percutaneous nephrostomy?
A thin catheter is passed through the skin of the back, through the kidney tissue, into the renal pelvis under ultrasound and fluoroscopy guidance. Urine then drains into an external bag. It is used when the normal drainage route down the ureter is blocked.
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Why is nephrostomy done rather than a JJ stent?
A retrograde JJ stent, placed at cystoscopy, is usually tried first because it is less invasive and has no external bag. Nephrostomy is chosen when a stent cannot be passed, when the kidney is infected and needs free drainage (pyonephrosis), or when the obstruction is caused by extensive tumour or fistula.
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How urgent is it?
Pyonephrosis - an infected obstructed kidney - is a urological emergency and drainage is needed within hours. Obstructive AKI, especially with hyperkalaemia, is also urgent. A stable ureteric stone can often be planned within days.
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How much does a private nephrostomy cost in the UK?
Roughly £2,500–£4,000 for a day-case insertion, £3,500–£5,000 with an overnight stay, and £4,500–£7,500 for a bilateral procedure. Routine catheter exchanges are £600–£1,200 each. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Does the procedure hurt?
You are given local anaesthetic and usually light sedation. You may feel pressure or brief discomfort as the catheter is placed, but sharp pain is uncommon. Some ache in the flank for a day or two afterwards is normal.
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How long does the nephrostomy stay in?
It depends on the cause. For a stone or reversible obstruction, it may be weeks - until definitive treatment is done. For advanced malignancy or non-treatable obstruction, it can be long-term or permanent, with routine 2–3 monthly exchanges.
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Can I shower or swim with a nephrostomy?
Showering with a waterproof dressing is fine from around 48 hours. Bathing, swimming and hot tubs are off the list while the catheter is in place, because of the infection risk through the tract.
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What are the main risks?
The most important are bleeding (uncommon, occasionally needing embolisation), sepsis (when the kidney is infected), catheter blockage or dislodgement, and - rarely - pneumothorax or colonic injury. Long-term risks include recurrent UTI, encrustation, tract stenosis and cosmetic impact of a permanent scar.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Nephrectomy
Surgical removal of a kidney - options and recovery.
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Lithotripsy
Shockwave and percutaneous treatment for kidney stones.
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Kidney embolisation
IR-led occlusion of renal vessels - tumour or bleeding.
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Mitrofanoff
Continent catheterisable channel for bladder drainage.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more