PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOMY FOR TREATMENT OF INTRACTABLE HEMORRHAGIC CYSTITIS

Six patients with severe hemorrhagic cystitis unresponsive to traditio nal localized therapy were treated with percutaneous nephrostomy for d iversion of urine. Bladder hemorrhage ceased in 3 patients, decreased in 2 and was unchanged in 1. In 1 patient with profound thrombocytopen ia perirenal hematoma developed as a result of the nephrostomy placeme nt but th's complication was self-limited and did not require surgery. Our experience with these 6 patients indicates that nephrostomy diver sion is safe and effective in most cases of hemorrhagic cystitis refra ctory to traditional, nonoperative therapy. Percutaneous urine diversi on may obviate the need for surgical urinary diversion in patients who have intractable hemorrhagic cystitis.