Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Assessing Urinary Tract Junction Obstruction Defects by Methylene Blue Dye Injection
06:05

Assessing Urinary Tract Junction Obstruction Defects by Methylene Blue Dye Injection

Published on: October 12, 2017

The relationship between dysfunctional voiding and congenital vesicoureteral reflux

S P Greenfield1, J Wan

  • 1Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Buffalo, New York 14222, USA.

Current Opinion in Urology
|January 10, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Voiding dysfunction is linked to congenital vesicoureteral reflux in children. Early recognition and treatment of aberrant lower urinary tract function are crucial to prevent infections and renal scarring.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Urology
  • Nephrology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Congenital vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children may be associated with voiding dysfunction.
  • Aberrant lower urinary tract function and structural deficiencies of the ureterovesical junction are implicated in VUR etiology.
  • Voiding dysfunction can be congenital or acquired during toilet training.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the etiological role of voiding dysfunction in congenital vesicoureteral reflux.
  • To highlight the association between lower urinary tract dysfunction and VUR in infants and children.
  • To emphasize the clinical significance of recognizing and managing voiding dysfunction in VUR patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing evidence linking voiding dysfunction and VUR.
  • Analysis of the developmental and acquired aspects of lower urinary tract dysfunction.
  • Discussion of clinical outcomes associated with undiagnosed/untreated voiding dysfunction.

Main Results:

  • Voiding dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a factor in congenital VUR.
  • Both structural and functional abnormalities of the lower urinary tract contribute to VUR.
  • Undiagnosed voiding dysfunction correlates with higher rates of breakthrough infections, renal scarring, and surgical failure.

Conclusions:

  • Voiding dysfunction plays a significant etiological role in congenital VUR.
  • Recognition and management of lower urinary tract dysfunction are vital for improving outcomes in children with VUR.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the roles of urodynamics and anticholinergic therapy.

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies VI: Voiding Cystourethrography and Cystography01:22

Imaging Studies VI: Voiding Cystourethrography and Cystography

Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG) and Cystography are specialized radiographic procedures used to examine the structure and function of the bladder and urethra.Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG)A Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG) is a diagnostic imaging procedure that assesses the anatomy and function of the lower urinary tract. It focuses on the bladder, bladder neck, and urethra, helping detect abnormalities such as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)—the backward or reverse flow of urine into the...
Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry01:19

Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry

Uroflowmetry is a non-invasive urodynamic test designed to measure various aspects of urination, including volume, flow rate, and the time to void. This test is crucial for diagnosing and assessing conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction, bladder dysfunction, incomplete bladder emptying, incontinence, and urinary tract blockages caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urethral strictures.Pre-Test Instructions:Before a uroflowmetry test, patients are typically advised to drink...
Disorders of the Urinary System01:20

Disorders of the Urinary System

The urinary system is responsible for eliminating waste and excess fluids from the body. However, disorders of the urinary system can arise due to various reasons like infections, stress, age, congenital abnormalities, and lifestyle.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common urinary system disorders. They are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and can spread to the bladder resulting in cystitis. Pyelonephritis is the result of a UTI that has ascended to the level of the...
Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations01:26

Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

Renal calculi, commonly termed kidney stones, are crystalline solid masses that form in the kidneys but can occur at any point within the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.The pathophysiology of renal stones involves several key factors: supersaturation of the urine with stone-forming constituents, changes in urine pH, a decrease in urine volume, and the presence of substances that promote or inhibit stone formation.Supersaturation of Urine: This is the...
The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating urine...
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra01:19

Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra

The lower urinary system consists of the urinary bladder and urethra, which are essential in storing and expelling urine from the body. Together with the internal and external sphincters, these structures work together to regulate urination effectively.Anatomy of the BladderThe urinary bladder is a muscular, stretchable organ behind the pubic bone and in front of the rectum. In females, the bladder is positioned anterior to the vagina and inferior to the uterus, while in males, it is located...