urinary retention.

ureteral obstruction.

a Whitaker test.

instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

calyceal obstruction.

is less commonly complicated by bacteriuriis associated with better health-related quality-of-life scores.

is preferred in most cases of ureteral obstruction owing to malignancy.

requires less anesthesia.

has a lower success rate.

The left kidney is slightly inferior to the right kidney.

The apposition of the colon to the kidney is greatest on the right side and at the lower pole.

The longitudinal axis is 45 degrees from vertical, with the lower pole anterior to the upper pole.

The longitudinal axis is 45 degrees from vertical, with the lower pole lateral to the upper pole.

Immediately posterior to the kidneys are the quadratus lumborum muscle, the psoas muscle, and the diaphragm.

There is a consistent relationship between anterior and posterior calyces and their medial-lateral position on anterior-posterior radiography.

Most kidneys have three distinct infundibula: the upper, middle, and lower.

Compound calyces are most common in the lower pole.

Paired anterior and posterior calyces enter about 90 degrees from each other.

There are 8 to 16 minor calyces.

segmental, arcuate, interlobular, interlobar (infundibular).

interlobular, segmental, interlobar (infundibular), arcuate.

segmental, arcuate, interlobar (infundibular), interlobular.

segmental, interlobar (infundibular), arcuate, interlobular.

segmental, interlobular, interlobar (infundibular), arcuate.

urine cultures should be obtained on all patients.

ampicillin/sulbactam is not an acceptable single agent for antimicrobial prophylaxis.

urine must be sterile before the procedure.

gentamicin is an acceptable single agent for antimicrobial prophylaxis.

all patients should receive prophylactic antimicrobials.

improved pulmonary mechanics.

easier entry into posterior calyces.

reduced pressure in the collecting system.

easier entry into upper pole calyces.

a large horizontal working surface.

Renal pelvis

Lower pole anterior calyx

Middle calyceal compound calyx

Upper pole posterior calyx

Upper pole infundibulum

ureteral access sheath to facilitate drainage.

ureteroscopy to retrieve guidewire.

straight ureteral catheter to inject air.

retrograde approach to percutaneous access.

retrograde placement of externalized (single pigtail) ureteral stent for drainage.

is more traumatic.

requires a 0.025-inch guidewire.

cannot be directed as easily.

should not be used by inexperienced operators.

entails less risk of loss of access.

is more portable.

is preferred in transplant kidneys.

provides more rapid evaluation of the entire kidney.

cannot be used to monitor tract dilation.

visualizes the access needle better.

cannot be performed in morbidly obese patients.

increases radiation exposure to the operator’s hands compared with the “triangulation” technique.

is not as dependent on retrograde assistance as the “triangulation” technique.

continuously monitors the depth of needle penetration.

can be used to place a needle at any useful location and angle.

easiest with a one-shot semirigid dilator.

safest with semirigid dilators.

most rapid with metal dilators.

most effective with a balloon dilator.

least expensive with metal dilators.

CT can be misleading.

lower pole access is preferred in most cases.

the puncture site is more lateral than in normal kidneys.

lower hemorrhage rates than in normal kidneys can be expected.

upper pole access is dangerous.

the typical hypermobility renders tract dilation difficult.

semirigid plastic dilators should not be used.

secondary procedures are usually required.

retrograde assistance is difficult.

fluoroscopy is more useful than ultrasonography for initial access.