Nephrostomy Tube plugging up

[hbeale54]

Is there a chat room somewhere around here that you can chat with other people who haveNephrostomy tubes.

[Shamrock4806]

I'm sorry I don't know if any chat or forums for your situation exist. So since you said "plugging up" and it could be serious, I posted the ChatGPT warning.


Nephrostomy tubes plugging up is not normal and can become urgent if urine flow stops.

Common causes:

Blood clots in the tube

Sediment, crystals, or kidney stone debris

Infection producing thick debris

Kinking or compression of the tubing

Poor drainage bag positioning

Dehydration causing concentrated urine


Seek prompt medical attention if:

Little or no urine is draining

Urine backs up around the tube site

New flank/kidney pain develops

Fever, chills, or signs of infection occur

The tube cannot be flushed as instructed by the care team


Temporary measures:

Check for kinks or twists in the tubing.

Make sure the drainage bag is below kidney level.

Stay hydrated if your doctor has not restricted fluids.

Do not forcefully flush the tube unless you were specifically trained and instructed to do so.


If the tube has stopped draining completely, contact the physician or interventional radiology team managing the nephrostomy tube immediately, as blocked tubes sometimes require flushing, exchange, or replacement.

-ChatGPT

ChatGPT has helped me out CONSIDERABLY with good factual information but always double check with your physician as always. Unfortunately chat and posts are a mix, you get good advice and bad.