Percutaneous Nephrostomy

Excerpt

Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) was first described by urologist Dr. Willard Goodwin in 1955 as a minimally invasive, x-ray-guided temporary or permanent procedural alternative to traditional surgery in patients with hydronephrosis. It has since become a common procedure but is now more frequently performed by radiologists, starting in the late 1970s when ultrasound imaging technology made it easier to visualize the kidneys from a cross-sectional approach.