Surgical Management of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in Children

Seo, Hyeok Jun; Chung, Sung Kwang; Park, Yoon Kyu

Abstract

From January 1988 to January 1996, 42 infants and children (44 renal units) had undergone surgical management to correct ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Median patient age was 8.5 years (range from 2 months to 17 years) and 11 patients were less than 1 year old at operation. Of 44 renal units surgically managed, 30 were on the left side and 10 were right side. 2 patients had undergone bilateral surgical management. Presenting symptoms were febrile urinary tract infection in 14 cases, abdominal pain in 14 cases, abdominal mass in 5 cases, gross hematuria in 3 cases and 3 cases were detected prenatally. We used imaging antegrade pyelography (AGP) in 15 cases, additional retrograde pyelography (RGP) in 12 cases and both AGP and RGP were performed in 1 case. To correct ureteropelvic junction obstruction, we performed dismembered pyeloplasty in 33 renal units, ureterolysis in 2 renal units, ureterocalycostomy in 1 renal unit, endopyelotomy in 1 renal unit and nephrectomy in 7 renal units. To diverge the urinary flow, we used nephrostomy in 19 renal units, ureteral stenting in 6 renal units and both nephrostomy and ureteral stenting were used in 10 renal units. As postoperative complications, restenosis was developed in 5 renal units, delayed open in 5 renal units, urinary tract infection in 2 renal units and wound infection, prolonged urine leakage, ureteral stone in each 1 renal unit. Postoperative success rate in followed-up patients, who had undergone pyeloplasty, was 91.6%. The success rate in children, who was less than 1 year old, was 100% and in children, who was more than 1 year old, was 88.4%. Finally we suggest that the surgical correction is safe and proper method for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children. Additionally early operation of ureteropelvic junction obstruction is recommendable.