[Posterior urethral valves in newborns and infants. Treatment and clinical course]

Severe forms of posterior urethral valve are essentially seen in neonates and infants. In 6 neonates under the age of 3 months, the predominant presenting features were a deterioration in the general status and renal failure. Transurethral section of the valves, after urinary drainage for an average of one month, restored patency of the lower urinary tract in every case. All children have persistent renal failure, which is moderate or severe in 4 cases. In 6 infants between the ages of 3 and 11 months, the clinical presentation was dominated by signs of infection. Section of the valve was able to be performed earlier, with subsequent urethral stricture in one case. Five infants, initially presenting with renal failure, have persistent moderate renal failure. The degree of obstruction accounts for the severity of the uropathy and its early clinical presentation. The renal prognosis is poor and related to the uretero-renal consequences of the valve as well as associated renal dysplasia.