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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing
Published on: August 14, 2019
Boys with posterior urethral valves: outcome concerning renal function, bladder function and paternity at ages 31 to
Gundela Holmdahl1, Ulla Sillén
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Queen Silvia Children' Hospital, Sahlgren' Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. gundela.holmdahl@vgregion.se
Insights
Men with posterior urethral valves (PUV) face long-term risks of kidney failure and bladder dysfunction. Regular lifelong monitoring of renal and bladder function is crucial for improving outcomes in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Nephrology
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Posterior urethral valves (PUV) are a common congenital anomaly in male infants.
- While short-term outcomes have improved, long-term renal function, bladder capacity, and fertility remain significant concerns.
- This study investigates the long-term health of individuals diagnosed with PUV during childhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term renal function, bladder function, and fertility in men treated for posterior urethral valves (PUV).
- To identify factors influencing long-term outcomes in patients with PUV and upper urinary tract dilation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 54 boys treated for PUV between 1956 and 1970.
- Follow-up data collected via questionnaire from 19 men with PUV and upper urinary tract dilation.
- Assessment of renal function (uremia, renal failure), bladder function (dysfunction, symptoms), and fertility (paternity).
Main Results:
- 32% of the men were uremic, and 21% had moderate renal failure.
- 40% exhibited bladder dysfunction, characterized by symptoms suggestive of detrusor weakness.
- Fertility was linked to renal status; all men were continent, but uremia impacted paternity.
Conclusions:
- Long-term renal and bladder function monitoring is essential for men with a history of PUV.
- Early detection and management of bladder dysfunction may improve long-term prognosis.
- Lifelong follow-up is critical to address potential complications and optimize quality of life.
Purpose:
The short-term prognosis for boys with posterior urethral valves (PUV) has improved in recent decades, but the long-term prognosis in terms of renal and bladder function and fertility is still a matter of great concern. This study is a followup of boys with PUV and dilated upper urinary tract treated in 1956 to 1970 at the Children's Hospital in Göteborg, Sweden.
Materials And Methods:
The records of 54 boys treated for PUV were reviewed. Of 27 boys with PUV and upper urinary tract dilation, 5 boys (18%) died at an early age and 3 boys were lost to followup during adolescence, leaving 19 to be included in the followup. They all answered a questionnaire about renal and bladder function and paternity.
Results:
Of the 19 men 32% were uremic, 21% had moderate renal failure and 47% had not been checked since adolescence. There were signs of bladder dysfunction in 40% and all these subjects had bladder symptoms suggesting detrusor weakness as the cause. All the men were continent. The ability to father children was dependent on whether or not the man was uremic.
Conclusions:
This long-term followup study emphasizes the importance of checking renal and bladder function throughout life in men born with PUV. Increasing attention to bladder dysfunction and its early treatment could probably improve the long-term prognosis.
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