Does neonatal pyeloureterostomy worsen bladder function in children with posterior urethral valves?

We determine whether long-term bladder dysfunction is more frequent in children with posterior urethral valves who undergo early supravesical urinary diversion (pyeloureterostomy) than in those who undergo valve ablation.

Urodynamic studies were performed in 59 boys with severe posterior urethral valves who were divided into 2 groups based on initial treatment of valve ablation (30) and bilateral pyeloureterostomy (29).

Of the 59 boys 25 (42%) had a normal bladder, including 11 with an over distended bladder and 34 (58%) had bladder dysfunction, including instability in 22, poor compliance in 9 and myogenic failure in 3. Of the 30 boys initially treated with valve ablation 14 (46.6%) had a normal bladder, including 7 with an over distended bladder and 16 (53.4%) had bladder dysfunction, including instability in 10, poor compliance in 4 and myogenic failure in 2. Of the 29 boys initially treated with temporary bilateral pyeloureterostomy 11 (38%) had normal bladders, 4 with an over distended bladder and 18 (62%) had bladder dysfunction, including instability in 12, poor compliance in 5 and myogenic failure in 1. There were no statistically significant differences in the number or type of bladder dysfunction between the diversion and valve ablation groups.

Therefore, temporary pyeloureterostomy did not affect bladder function adversely in the long term.