Symptoms
- Intermittent flank pain, often after drinking fluids
- Recurrent urinary infection
- Blood in urine after minor injury
- A swollen kidney found on ultrasound
- Poor feeding or a lump in infants
Causes and risk factors
- Congenital narrowing or abnormal muscle at the junction
- A crossing blood vessel compressing the junction
- Scarring after stone surgery or infection
Diagnosis
- Ultrasound showing hydronephrosis
- DTPA or MAG3 renogram to confirm obstruction
- CT urography for anatomy and crossing vessels
Treatment
- Observation with periodic scans if drainage is preserved
- Laparoscopic or open pyeloplasty
- Endopyelotomy in selected cases
- Temporary stent or nephrostomy for infected obstruction
Prevention
- Cannot be prevented, but early detection protects kidney function
- Keep to follow-up scans if you have known hydronephrosis
Recovery
Pyeloplasty needs two to four days in hospital and a stent for four to six weeks. Function is reassessed with a renogram at three months.
Information on this website is for patient education only and does not replace an in-person consultation. Treatment results vary between individuals and no outcome is guaranteed.