Comparison of Conservative and Surgical Treatments in Symptomatic Pregnancy Hydronephrosis

This study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the treatment choice in pregnant women with symptomatic hydronephrosis.

Hospital records of pregnant women who visited our clinic due to symptomatic hydronephrosis between December 2010 and December 2020 were analysed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups: conservative and surgical (JJ stent) treatment groups. Age, gestational week, primipara, trimester, visual analogue scale (VAS), and preterm birth rates as well as clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonography findings were compared between the groups.

The study included 227 pregnant women (conservative treatment group, 133; JJ stent group, 94). Age, gestational week, primipara, trimester, hydronephrosis side, fever, pyelonephritis, pyuria, preterm labour and abortion, as well as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell levels did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05). In the JJ stent group, VAS, creatinine value, culture positivity rate, degree of hydronephrosis, and renal pelvis anterior-posterior (AP) diameter were significantly higher than those in the conservative treatment group (p < 0.05). The cut-off value for renal pelvis AP diameter was 16.5 mm in the first 2 trimesters and 27.5 mm in the third trimester.

Surgical treatment should not be delayed in pregnant women who do not respond to conservative treatment and have impaired renal function and grade 3-4 hydronephrosis. Early surgical intervention is necessary in patients with a renal pelvis AP diameter of >16.5 mm in the first 2 trimesters and >27.5 in the third trimester.