The kidneys are situated on the posterior abdominal wall, and in thin healthy subjects may be only up to 2 to 3 cm from the skin. Access to the kidney is relatively straightforward, because the kidney can be easily visualized under ultrasound guidance. Using local anesthetic, a needle can be placed, under ultrasound direction, through the skin into the renal cortex and into the renal pelvis. A series of wires and tubes can be passed through the needle to position the drainage catheter.