Percutaneous Nephrostomy and Anxiety: A Gender Matter?

• Published in: Journal of radiology nursing Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 323 - 326
• Main Authors: Fernández Cacho, Luis Manuel, Cacho, Pedro Muñoz, Lope, Juan Jordá, Arriola, Rosa Ayesa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Anxiety; Gender; Percutaneous nephrostomy; Quality of life; Anxiety; Percutaneous nephrostomy; Gender; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1546-0843; 1555-9912
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jradnu.2020.05.006

Percutaneous nephrostomy is a urinary diversion technique. Patients must learn to live with probes for the time necessary to solve their problem or permanently. The frequency of care and changes of the catheter to avoid a malfunction of the catheter with renal compromise makes patients live with anxiety. The objective was to analyze the level of anxiety presented by patients with nephrostomy and to further explore if that differs by gender. A descriptive observational longitudinal study with an n = 178 sample to assess anxiety globally and its relationship with the sex of the patients in two moments: before of the procedure and the first tube change. The patients who live with nephrostomy tube present a mild level of anxiety. There are no differences when analyzing anxiety levels based on the patients's gender. •Percutaneous nephrostomy is a technique whose demand is growing exponentially.•It is a safe and effective procedure in obstructive or compressive pathologies that prevent the correct flow of the urine causing a retrograde flow of the same and giving rise to hydronephrosis with the consequent renal compromise.•Patients who live with nephrostomy tubes have anxiety levels where nursing plays a fundamental role in minimizing the impact of these tubes during the time they live with the tubes.