Voiding cystourethrography after uncomplicated ureteral reimplantation in children: is it necessary?

Subureteral Injection with Small-Size Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid Copolymer: Is It Really Efficient?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of patients with vesicoureteral reflux, which were treated with subureteral injection of small-size (80–120 μm) dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Dx/HA). Data of 75 children (105 renal units) who underwent STING procedure with small-size Dx/HA for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in our clinic between 2008 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative reflux grade and side, injection indication, postoperative urinary infections and urinary symptoms, voiding cystourethrogram, and renal scintigraphy results were evaluated. The success rate of the procedure was 100% in patients with grades 1 and 2 reflux, 91% in patients with grade 3 reflux, and 82.6% in patients with grade 4. Overall success rate of the treated patients was 97%. Endoscopic subureteric injection with Dx/HA procedure has become a reasonable minimally invasive alternative technique to open surgery, long-term antibiotic prophylaxis, and surveillance modalities in treatment of VUR in terms of easy application, low costs and complication rates, and high success rates. Injection material composed of small-size dextranomer microspheres seems superior to normal size Dx/HA, together with offering similar success with low cost.

Urinary tract infection in the setting of vesicoureteral reflux

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the most common underlying etiology responsible for febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) or pyelonephritis in children. Along with the morbidity of pyelonephritis, long-term sequelae of recurrent renal infections include renal scarring, proteinuria, and hypertension. Treatment is directed toward the prevention of recurrent infection through use of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis during a period of observation for spontaneous resolution or by surgical correction. In children, bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD) plays a significant role in the occurrence of UTI and the rate of VUR resolution. Effective treatment of BBD leads to higher rates of spontaneous resolution and decreased risk of UTI.

Significance of an endoscopically injected nodule detected on ultrasound as a predictive factor for the resolution of vesicoureteral reflux

Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is feasible in pediatric patients. As endoscopic injection has a lower success rate than ureteral reimplantation, a postoperative voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is usually performed. The present study evaluated whether the presence of a nodule on noninvasive ultrasound could predict the resolution of VUR and replace invasive VCUG. Patients who received an injection of endoscopic bulking agent for VUR from January 2005 to December 2010 were evaluated retrospectively. It was evaluated whether a nodule, an echogenic mass lesion distinguished from the bladder at the ureteral orifice, was present on the ultrasound one month postoperatively. The success of the injection in the group with nodules was compared with that of the group without nodules by VCUG 3 months postoperatively. A total of 149 patients (220 ureters) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at surgery was 3.5 years (range, 0.6–18 years). The overall success rate was 73.2%. A nodule was present in 152 cases (69.1%). The group with nodules had a higher success rate than the group without nodules (84.2%, 128/152 vs. 48.5%, 33/68, respectively; P<0.001). According to multivariate analysis, injection nodules were a predictive factor for the success of the endoscopic injection (odds ratio, 6.050; P<0.001). The failure rate increased with increasing injection volume. The sensitivity of sonographic injection nodules for predicting success was 79.5% and the specificity was 59.3%. To conclude, the presence of a postoperative nodule can predict the resolution of VUR.

Clinical outcomes and long-term resolution in patients with persistent vesicoureteral reflux after open ureteral reimplantation

PURPOSE

Success rates of ureteral reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux are high. Few studies document the natural history of children with persistent vesicoureteral reflux. We reviewed their clinical outcomes and long-term resolution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all children with persistent vesicoureteral reflux (grade 1 or greater) into the reimplanted ureter(s) on initial cystogram after reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux at our institution from January 1990 to December 2002. We evaluated subsequent cystograms (graded on the 3-point radionuclide cystogram scale), surgery and urinary tract infection. We performed survival analyses of time to resolution of persistent (grade 1 or greater) and clinically significant (grade 2 or greater) vesicoureteral reflux in patients with more than 1 postoperative cystogram.

RESULTS

Of 965 patients 59 (94 ureters) had persistent vesicoureteral reflux (6.1%), including 19 grade 1/3, 29 grade 2/3 and 11 grade 3/3. Median patient age at reimplantation was 1.9 years (range 0.8 to 5.1) and 62.7% were female. Preoperative vesicoureteral reflux grade was 2/3 in 42.4% and 3/3 in 57.6%, and 30.5% of patients had ureteral tapering. Median followup was 47.1 months (IQR 19.3-650.3). Reflux was resolved in 26 of 36 (72.2%) patients and median time to resolution was 20.4 months. Grade 2 or greater reflux on postoperative cystogram resolved in 21 of 32 (65.6%) patients and median time to resolution was 20.4 months. There were 10 patients with persistent vesicoureteral reflux at last cystogram, grade 1 or 2 in 9 and 3/3 in 1 patient. One patient underwent repeat reimplantation for persistent vesicoureteral reflux and 7 (13%) had postoperative febrile urinary tract infection at a median of 37 months postoperatively (IQR 1.7-64.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent vesicoureteral reflux after reimplantation resolves spontaneously in most children and can be managed nonoperatively with good long-term outcomes.

Diagnosis and management of vesicoureteral reflux in children

Critical evaluation of previously accepted dogma regarding the evaluation and treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has raised significant questions regarding all aspects of VUR management. Whereas the standard of care previously consisted of antibiotic prophylaxis for any child with VUR, it is now unclear which children, if any, truly benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis. Operative intervention for VUR constitutes overtreatment in many children, yet there are limited data available to indicate which children benefit from VUR correction through decreased rates of adverse long-term clinical sequelae. Studies with longer follow-up demonstrate decreased efficacy of endoscopic therapy that was previously hoped to approach the success of ureteroneocystostomy. Prospective studies might identify risk factors for pyelonephritis and renal scarring without antibiotic prophylaxis. Careful retrospective reviews of adults with a history of reflux might allow childhood risk factors for adverse sequelae to be characterized. Through analysis of multiple characteristics, better clinical management of VUR on an individualized basis will become the new standard of care.

The outcome of surgery versus medical management in the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux

Evaluation of the relative merits of medical versus surgical management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has been limited by the few prospective studies comparing these strategies. Among those trials that have been reported, the only consistent positive finding has been that incidence of febrile UTI is lower among children undergoing surgical treatment in comparison with medical treatment. Studies have not found significant differences in overall incidence of UTI, or in rates of new renal scarring or progression of existing scarring. It is likely that there is a subset of children with VUR who do benefit from aggressive treatment of their VUR, but we are not yet able to fully determine which children these are. It is hoped that future research will further clarify which treatments are useful in which children.