Congenital anterior urethral valves and diverticula--analysis of 50 cases

Fifty patients with anterior urethral valvular obstruction were reviewed. All of them had difficulty in urination, 15 patients had recurrent high fever, 8 patients had features of renal failure, and 5 patients had a reducible swelling at the penoscrotal junction. With voiding cystourethrograph, distension of the proximal urethra was seen in all patients. Diverticula of the urethra could be demonstrated in 15 patients. Eight patients had unilateral, and 2 patients had bilateral vesicoureteral reflux. With intravenous pyelograph, unilateral hydronephrosis was seen in 4 and bilateral hydronephrosis was seen in 19. Excision of the valve and/or diverticulum with primary repair was performed in 29 patients, 28 were cured, 1 died of renal failure 8 years postoperatively. Multi-stage procedures were performed in 7 patients. Transurethral fulguration of the valve was performed in 14 patients. Nine patients were cured, secondary operations were needed in 5 patients.