The mechanism of new onset contralateral reflux following unilateral ureteroneocystostomy

Contemporary Management of Vesicoureteral Reflux

The past 30 years have seen broad changes in the diagnosis and management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Recently, a clinical debate has generated an open discussion in academic circles. New evidence has shifted treatment patterns away from widespread surgical management and recently brought into question some pharmacologic treatments. VUR is usually not hazardous by itself but is a significant risk factor for urinary tract infection (UTI) and less commonly, renal scarring and insufficiency. Given the costs and morbidity of UTI as well as the potential for significant renal injury, our approach remains conservative. Careful follow-up, parental education about pathophysiology and management of VUR and UTI, and management of bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD) when present, are the foundation of treatment. Additionally, though we recognize the limitation of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP), we believe the benefits outweigh the risks and costs for many patients. Careful observation can be considered in patients with a single medical home, parental understanding of what UTI signs and symptoms are, low grade VUR, no history of complicated UTIs and close follow-up. Surgical management remains a relevant option for select patients who fail conservative measures with breakthrough UTIs or failure to resolve. Minimally invasive surgical options are available with acceptable outcomes though open ureteroneocystostomy still carries the highest success rate.

New contralateral vesicoureteral reflux after unilateral ureteral reimplantation: predictive factors and clinical outcomes

PURPOSE

Although unilateral ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux is highly successful, new contralateral reflux will develop postoperatively in some patients. We examined predictors and clinical outcomes of postoperative contralateral vesicoureteral reflux.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed patients who underwent nontapered unilateral reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux graded on a 3-point scale at our institution from January 1990 to December 2002, and identified those with subsequent contralateral vesicoureteral reflux. We analyzed the association of patient/procedure characteristics with incidence, and time to resolution of contralateral reflux and postoperative urinary tract infection. Multivariable models controlled for variables associated with incidence and time to resolution of contralateral reflux.

RESULTS

A total of 395 patients (77.2% female, median age 5.3 years) underwent ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux. Preoperative reflux was grade 1 in 2.8% of patients, grade 2 in 56.6% and grade 3 in 40.6%. Technical success was 95.4%. After reimplantation 39 patients (9.9%) had new contralateral reflux (grade 1 in 7, grade 2 in 27 and grade 3 in 5). Median followup was 51.8 months. On multivariate analysis younger age (less than 6 years, OR 3.7, p = 0.006) and low observed bladder capacity as percent of predicted bladder capacity (less than 50% of predicted capacity, OR 6.3, p = 0.02) were significant predictors of contralateral reflux. Contralateral reflux resolved in 21 of 27 patients (77.8%) on subsequent cystography at a median of 21.5 months. Two patients underwent reimplantation for persistent contralateral reflux. Four of 39 patients (10.3%) with contralateral reflux had postoperative febrile urinary tract infections at a median of 26 months, with spontaneous resolution of contralateral reflux in all.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger patients and those with low observed vs predicted bladder capacity may be at increased risk for postoperative contralateral vesicoureteral reflux. A majority of contralateral reflux will resolve spontaneously, and the clinical course is typically benign.

Clinical value of persistent but downgraded vesicoureteral reflux after dextranomer/hyaluronic acid injection in children

We aimed to investigate the clinical value of persistent but downgraded vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) after dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (Dx/HA) injection in children. The medical records of 128 children (195 ureters) who underwent Dx/HA injections for VUR were reviewed. The incidences of pre- and post-operative febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) were analyzed in children with or without persistent VUR on voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) 3 months postoperatively. The surgical results of VUR persistent children who underwent a single additional injection were assessed. The VUR resolved completely in 100 ureters (51.3%), was persistent in 95 ureters, and newly developed in 2 ureters. The incidence of pre/post-operative febrile UTIs were 0.35 ± 0.39 per year and 0.07 ± 0.32 per year in VUR resolved children (P < 0.001), and 0.76 ± 1.18 per year and 0.20 ± 0.61 per year in VUR persistent children (P < 0.001). A single additional Dx/HA injection (44 ureters) resolved VUR in 29 ureters (65.9%), and also reduced the VUR to grade I in 7 ureters (15.9%), II in 4 (9.1%), and III in 4 (9.1%). Even in children with persistent VUR after Dx/HA injection, the incidence of febrile UTIs decreased markedly. The VUR grade significantly decreases after single additional Dx/HA injection.

Current status of Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty technique

Significant controversy exists regarding vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) management, due to lack of sufficient prospective studies. The rationale for surgical management is that VUR can cause recurrent episodes of pyelonephritis and long-term renal damage. Several surgical techniques have been introduced during the past decades. Open anti-reflux operations have high success rate, exceeding 95%, and long durability. The goal of this article is to review the Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty technique, which is a simple and highly successful technique but has not gained the attention it deserves. The mainstay of this technique is approximation of medial aspects of ureteral orifices to midline by one mattress suture. A unique advantage of Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty is its bilateral nature, which results in prevention from contralateral new reflux. Regarding not altering the normal course of the ureter in Gil-Vernet procedure, later catheterization of and retrograde access to the ureter can be performed normally. There is no report of ureterovesical junction obstruction following Gil-Vernet procedure. Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty can be performed without inserting a bladder catheter and drain on an outpatient setting. Several exclusive advantages of Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty make it necessary to reconsider the technique role in VUR management.

Surgical management of vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric patients

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) represents one of the most significant risk factors for acute pyelonephritis in children. The current indications for the surgical correction of VUR depend on the presence or absence of renal scars. If no scars are present, primary ureteral reimplantation is only indicated in high-grade bilateral VUR, whereas in the presence of renal scars surgical correction is indicated in low/high grade reflux at a young age. Since there are numerous techniques for antireflux surgery available, it is the purpose of this article to critically review these techniques with their specific advantages, typical complications and postoperative management. In general, all surgical technique have a high success rate of 92-98%. The extravesical Lich-Gregoir technique is primarily indicated in unilateral VUR. Children with a high-grade VUR, who are under the age of 3 years and boys are prone to the development of postoperative urinary retention and might be considered for intravesical surgical techniques. The Politano-Leadbetter technique is very helpful in correcting bilateral VUR of any grade in one session to create a neo-ostium in an anatomically correct position which is easily accessible for endourological manipulations. The Psoas hitch ureteroneocystotomy is an excellent technique to correct VUR associated with megaureter, or with duplicated ureters, and VUR failures. Endoscopic subureteral injections are primarily reserved for low grade VUR with a one session success rate of >90%. Endoscopic subureteral injections appear to be an alternative to long-term antibiotics in grade I-III VUR. Laparoscopic antireflux surgery has not gained widespread use due to the very long operating times. Contralateral VUR will occur in about 20% of children undergoing unilateral antireflux surgery; risk factors are severe VUR and VUR into a duplicated system. Postoperative follow-up nowadays consists of urinalysis and ultrasonography; voiding cystourethrography is only indicated in case of febrile urinary tract infection. Despite the excellent success rates following antireflux surgery one has to keep in mind that surgery only corrects the anatomical abnormality. The long-term outcome with regard to renal function, posttherapeutic febrile urinary tract infections and arterial hypertension does not differ significantly from the medication group except for those patients with a demonstrated a genetic background. Therefore, the indication for surgery and the surgical technique applied have to be discussed thoroughly and must be associated with a minimal complication rate.