[Health assessment of newborns with congenital urinary malformation]

Improvement in diagnosis of prenatal congenital urinary malformations (CUM) resulted in increased detection of CUM cases among newborns. To facilitate medical care for CUM newborns, we have developed an objective method of CUM newborns' health assessment. We studied 40 case histories of newborns with prenatally detected CUM admitted to urological clinics (20 with diagnosis of poor health and 20 with moderate condition severity) and 40 CUM newborns examined outpatiently (moderate health hazard). The computer analysis of the available data has established 13 most informative diagnostic criteria: 4 sonographic criteria, 3 lab criteria and 6 physical exam criteria estimated by 4 points - from 0 to 4. The criteria were pooled to a table which was used as a scale to assess general health condition. After delivery, CUM newborn gets inpatient health assessment by a neonatologist using 13 criteria. According to the total score, the condition is assessed as satisfactory (0-5), moderately severe (6-11), severe ( > 12). Efficacy of such health assessment was proved in a population study of 312 prenatal CUM newborns. Grouping of such newborns helps design of programs of further examination and management.