Journal Reviews
Robot-assisted ureterocalicostomy
Ureterocalicostomy was first introduced by Neuwirt (1947) and further described by Jameson et al. (1957) as an alternative procedure for repair of pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction associated with an intrarenal pelvis. Performing ureterocalicostomy for PUJ repair has been suggested in...
Is robotic pyeloplasty in the under-ones as good as open repair?
Pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) is a common cause of paediatric hydronephrosis. Indications for intervention include reduced renal function (<40%), symptoms (urinary tract infection or pain) and increasing dilatation. Although the Anderson-Hynes open pyeloplasty (OP) has long been the gold standard...
Assessing resolution of isolated hydronephrosis – is APPD superior to the SFU system?
Antenatal scanning detects urinary tract dilatation in 1-5% of pregnancies. Isolated hydronephrosis (i.e., that not due to secondary dilatation e.g. bladder dysfunction) is known to resolve or improve in most; some patients may, however, require intervention through deterioration of obstruction...
Delayed decompression of the infected obstructed kidney increases fatality
Well, we know this, I hear you all say. It is standard practice that the obstructed kidney with associated infection requires prompt decompression, and this is drilled into all UK trainees. It is surprising therefore that although we frequently deal...
Supranormal function on MAG-3 – what is its significance and how to predict?
Differential renal function (DRF) on MAG-3 scans is typically used in patients with pelvic ureteric junction obstruction (PUJ obstruction). Supranormal DRF is when the kidney with PUJO has higher DRF than the normal contralateral kidney. The authors in this study...
Does stable or decreasing hydronephrosis on ultrasound lead to stable or improved function on diuretic renography?
Antenatal hydronephrosis is noted in approximately 1% of all pregnancies. Persistent renal obstruction may lead to progressive loss of renal function. Renal ultrasound (USS) is the preferred modality for diagnosis and monitoring of paediatric hydronephrosis as it is non-invasive, non-ionising,...
Ureteral clipping in children – longer term outcomes of a novel treatment
In this article, Lopes et al. report longer term outcomes of laparoscopic clipping of ureters of non-functioning kidneys or non-functioning renal moieties in duplex kidneys associated with ectopic ureter or obstructive ureteroceles. In 2014, their group published a promising preliminary...
Ureterocystostomy – novel surgery for the paediatric obstructed megaureter
Megaureter is a relatively common congenital urinary tract anomaly; obstructed non-refluxing megaureter is one variant. Initial management is conservative, with operative intervention reserved for symptomatic cases (recurrent pyelonephritis, pain, increasing dilatation or worsening renal function). Surgical options include cutaneous ureterostomy,...
Urinary NGAL, KIM-1 and L-FABP concentrations in antenatal hydronephrosis
he elusive search for being able to diagnose pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) continues and this group of researchers investigated the possible clinical application of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) and urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding proteins...
