To Compare the Effectiveness of Percutaneous Nephrostomy Versus Double-J Stent in Obstructive Uropathy

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the short-term effectiveness of percutaneous nephrostomy and double-J ureteral stenting in patients with obstructive uropathy. METHODOLOGY This retrospective observational study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, from January to December 2024. All positive blood cultures during the study period were processed using standard microbiological techniques and the Vitek 2.0 system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) 2024 guidelines. Organisms were categorized as per standard resistance classification. Data were analyzed in SPSS v27, with p<0.05 considered significant. RESULTS Mean age was 35.6 ± 8.4 years, and 76.7% of participants were male. Treatment effectiveness was higher with percutaneous nephrostomy than with double-J stenting (88.5% vs 77.9%, p = 0.004). After adjustment, percutaneous nephrostomy remained associated with higher odds of success (adjusted odds ratio 2.05, 95% confidence interval 1.18 to 3.55, p = 0.01). Female sex and malignant etiology were independently associated with lower treatment success. Procedure time and hospital stay were similar between groups. CONCLUSION Percutaneous nephrostomy was associated with higher short-term treatment effectiveness than double-J stenting in obstructive uropathy. Clinical context and underlying etiology should guide treatment selection.