Objective sonographic measurements of renal pelvic diameter and renal parenchymal thickness can identify renal hypofunction and poor drainage in patients with antenatally detected unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Hydronephrosis grading systems risk stratify patients with potential ureteropelvic junction obstruction, but only some criteria are measured objectively. Most notably, there is no consensus definition of renal parenchymal thinning. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the association between sonographic measures of renal length, renal pelvic diameter, and renal parenchymal thickness and the outcomes of a)renal hypofunction(differential renal function{DRF} <40%) and b)high-risk renal drainage(T1/2 > 40 min). STUDY DESIGN: An institutional database of patients who had diuretic renograms(DR) for unilateral hydronephrosis was reviewed. Only infants with Society for Fetal Urology(SFU) grades 3/4 hydronephrosis without hydroureter on postnatal sonogram and had a DR within 120 days were included. The following measurement variables were analyzed: anterior posterior renal pelvic diameter(APRPD), renal length(RL), renal parenchymal thickness(PT), minimal renal parenchymal thickness(MPT = shortest distance from mid-pole calyx to parenchymal edge), and renal pyramidal thickness(PyrT). RL, PT, MPT, PyrT measurements were expressed as ratios (hydronephrotic kidney/contralateral kidney). Multivariate logistic regression was performed for each outcome by comparing three separate renal measurement models. Model 1: RLR, APRPD, MPTR; Model 2: RLR, APRPD, PTR, Model 3: RLR, APRPD, PyrTR. Individual performance of variables from the best performing model were assessed via ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: 196 patients were included (107 with SFU grade 3, 89 with SFU grade 4) hydronephrosis. Median patient age was 29[IQR 16,47.2] days. 10% had hypofunction, and 20% had T1/2 > 40 min 90% with hypofunction and 87% with high-risk drainage had SFU4 hydronephrosis. Model 1 exhibited the best performance, but on multivariate analysis, only APRPD and MPTR were independently associated with both outcomes. No other measure of parenchymal thickness reached statistical significance. The odds of hypofunction and high-risk drainage increase 10% per 1 mm increase in APRPD(aOR 1.1 [CI 1.03-1.2], p = 0.005; aOR 1.1 [CI 1.03-1.2], p = 0.003). For every 0.1unit increase in MPTR the odds of hypofunction decrease by 40%(aOR 0.6 [CI 0.4-0.9], p = 0.019); and the odds of high-risk drainage decrease by 30%(aOR 0.7 [CI 0.5-0.9], p = 0.011). Optimal statistical cut-points of APRPD >16 mm and/or MPTR <0.36 identified patients at risk for obstructive parameters on DR. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Of the sonographic hydronephrosis measurement variables analyzed, only APRPD and MPTR were independently associated with objective definitions of obstruction based on renal function and drainage categories. Patients who maintain APRPD <16 mm and/or MPTR >0.36 can potentially be monitored with renal sonograms as there is >90% chance that they will not have DRF<40% or T1/2 > 40 min.

Predicting the likelihood of prolongation of half-time among infants with initially indeterminate drainage values: A single-institution retrospective study of 535 patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have shown a broad half time (T1/2) interval on MAG3 diuresis renography (DR) that is indeterminate for obstruction. We aimed to refine and sub-divide the indeterminate range and associate it with clinically meaningful outcomes: pyeloplasty and pyeloplasty-free survival. METHODS: We identified patients <1.5 years-old at presentation with unilateral, isolated moderate to severe hydronephrosis who underwent DR from 2000 to 2016. A logistic regression model was created using T1/2 to predict surgery. An indeterminate range was defined based on patients with <90% probability of pyeloplasty or resolution. This group was sub-divided into three T1/2 intervals: 5-20, 21-40, and 41-60 min. Endpoints were pyeloplasty and pyeloplasty free survival. Indications for surgery were loss of differential renal function (DRF), worsening T1/2, family preference, and/or pain. RESULTS: Among 2025 patients with DR, 704 met criteria (169 were lost to follow up). Of the remaining 535, 218 had pyeloplasties and 317 did not. The Pyeloplasty group had significantly worse DRF, T1/2 at initial DR, and exited the study earlier, at a median age 1.1years vs 2.3 years (p < 0.001). For all patients with antenatally detected unilateral UPJ obstruction, the odds of undergoing pyeloplasty at any time increased by 1.8 times (p < 0.001 [95% CI: 1.04, 1.08]) per 10 unit increase in T1/2 until T1/2 = 60. However, in patients with intermediate drainage, five year surgery-free survival probability for patients with T1/2 5-20, 21-40, and 41-60 min were 79.7%, 46.7% and 33.3% respectively (χ2 = 41.2, P = <0.001). DISCUSSION: Previous efforts to define indeterminate drainage resulted in ranges for T1/2 that were too broad to be clinically useful. Within our endpoint-defined indeterminate range, our data show that there are significant step offs in 5-year surgery-free survival for patients with T1/2 < 20 min, 21-40 min, and 41-60 min. Although there is a steady decrease in surgery-free survival among patients with a T1/2 of 21-40 min over the first 5 years of life, half can be managed nonoperatively. These patients likely represent the true intermediate risk group and closer follow up is justified. CONCLUSIONS: Initial T1/2 on DR is predictive of future surgery. When drainage is "indeterminate" for obstruction, sub-stratification allows for more accurate prognostication.

Hyaluronidase to reduce a prolapsed incontinent ischemic ileovesicostomy.

Stomal prolapse is a known late complication of urinary diversions commonly used in urology. While rare, it can lead to ischemia, necrosis, and obstruction of the stoma, requiring urgent reduction before formal revision can be undertaken. Several measures can be attempted to reduce the prolapse including manual pressure and topical osmotic agents. One method that has not been reported in the urologic literature is the use of hyaluronidase. Herein, we report the first case in the literature of hyaluronidase usage to assist in reduction of an ischemic and obstructed prolapsed incontinent ileovesicostomy after manual compression failed.

Parental preferences in the management of vesicoureteral reflux.

PURPOSE: Considering that there are few absolute indications for the timing and type of surgical correction of vesicoureteral reflux, we objectively measured parental choice in how the child's vesicoureteral reflux should be managed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively identified patients 0 to 18 years old with any grade of newly diagnosed vesicoureteral reflux. All races and genders were included, and non-English speakers were excluded from analysis. Parents were shown a video presented by a professional actor that objectively described vesicoureteral reflux and the 3 treatment modalities of antibiotic prophylaxis, open ureteral reimplantation and endoscopic treatment. Then they completed a questionnaire regarding their preference for initial management, and at hypothetical followup points of 18, 36 and 54 months. Consultation followed with the pediatric urologist who was blinded to the questionnaire results. RESULTS: A total of 86 girls and 15 boys (150 refluxing units) were enrolled in the study. Mean patient age was 2.6 years old. Preferences for initial treatment were antibiotic prophylaxis in 36, endoscopic surgery in 26, open surgery in 11, unsure in 26 and no response in 2. Among those initially selecting antibiotic prophylaxis, after 18 months the preference was for endoscopic treatment, but after 36 and 54 months preferences trended toward open surgery. After consultation with the pediatric urologist 68 parents chose antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that antibiotic prophylaxis is preferred as the initial therapy for vesicoureteral reflux by 35.6% of parents. However, given persistent vesicoureteral reflux, preferences shifted toward surgery. With time the preference for open surgery increased and the preference for endoscopic surgery decreased.

Complications of circumcision.

In the United States, circumcision is a commonly performed procedure. It is a relatively safe procedure with a low overall complication rate. Most complications are minor and can be managed easily. Though uncommon, complications of circumcision do represent a significant percentage of cases seen by pediatric urologists. Often they require surgical correction that results in a significant cost to the health care system. Severe complications are quite rare, but death has been reported as a result in some cases. A thorough and complete preoperative evaluation, focusing on bleeding history and birth history, is imperative. Proper selection of patients based on age and anatomic considerations as well as proper sterile surgical technique are critical to prevent future circumcision-related adverse events.