Renosonogram in diagnosis of renal failure

Twenty patients (10 males, 10 females age 20-60 years) with normal renal function underwent standard IVP and renosonogram. Length of kidney in its longest axis on IVP and sonogram was 13.6 +/- 1.43 cm, and 11.76 +/- 1.61 cm respectively. The ratio of the length of kidneys on IVP and sonogram respectively. There was significant correlation between these two factors (r=.95, P less than .001). When these ratios were analyzed individually for right and left slides it was found that ratios on IVP for the right kidney were 4.05 +/- .29, and for the left kidney 4.21 +/- .37. The ratios on the sonogram were for the right kidney 3.45 +/- .33 and for the left kidney 3.67 +/- .42. Using these ratios expected length of renal shadows on sonogram were calculated in 15 patients with severe renal failure (mean creat. 13.79 mg/dl). In ten patients in whom the infusion IVP visualized the renal shadows, the sonographic findings were confirmed. In 5 patients where infusion IVP was not helpful renosonogram revealed hydronephrosis in three patients, a retroperitoneal mass in another and cross-ectopia in a third patient. The results of this study indicate renosonogram is a useful procedure in evaluation and management of patients with renal failure with no demonstrable toxicity and requiring little preparation.