Urologic complications of renal papillary necrosis.

Fifty-six patients demonstrating roentgenographic evidence of renal papillary necrosis were reviewed. Seven patients had an acute fulminating form of the disease. Urologic complication incident to sloughed renal papillae required urgent surgical intervention. Management ranging from ureteral catheterization to nephrectomy in 3 of 7 patients is discussed, and associated disease states are scrutinized.