The postnatal management of hydronephrosis diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound

Abstract

A total of 112 patients (142 kidneys) presented with hydronephrosis consistent with ureteropelvic junction obstruction that had been diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound. The kidneys were classified as having poor, moderate or good function based on isotope imaging at 3 months after birth. Of 9 kidneys that showed poor function 3 recovered sufficient function on pigtail drainage to justify preservation and these patients underwent pyeloplasty. Of 27 kidneys with moderate function 23 also underwent pyeloplasty and 14 of these demonstrated improvement in function postoperatively. Of the 100 kidneys in the good function group that were followed conservatively 23 underwent pyeloplasty during followup primarily because of an observed decrease in function. We propose that there is no indication for immediate pyeloplasty in infants with prenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis who demonstrate good function postnatally.