Ureteroneocystostomy in children with posterior urethral valves: Indications and outcome

Purpose: Ureteroneocystostomy in children with posterior urethral valves represents a surgical challenge. We reviewed our experience with this procedure to assess its indications and outcome. Materials and Methods: Between 1996 and January 2000, 106 children with posterior urethral valves were treated of whom 20 (19%) underwent ureteroneocystostomy at a mean age plus or minus SD of 5 2.6 years. Indications for surgery were recurrent urinary infections despite adequate valve ablation in 14 patients of whom 7 had persistent reflux in 12 renal units and 7 had obstruction in 11 ureterovesical junctions. The remaining 6 patients were initially treated with high loop diversion and obstruction was confirmed in 9 ureterovesical junctions by the Whitaker test. Bladder function was assessed by videourodynamics before surgery. Transureteroureterostomy was performed in 7 ureters, and 25 ureters were tailored and reimplanted using the combined intravesical and extravesical approach, including a psoas hitch in 18 (72%). Results: Mean followup plus or minus SD was 2.3 +/- 1 years. Obstruction and reflux occurred in 1 (4%) and 9 (36%) ureteroneocystostomies, respectively. Obstruction was successfully managed by repeat surgery. Patients with reflux were maintained on chemoprophylaxis. No patient required repeat surgery and reflux did not resolve spontaneously in any. Reflux occurred in all ureteroneocystostomies without a psoas hitch (100%) and in 2 with a hitch (10%) (p <0.004). Dilatation of the upper tracts persisted in all patients. In 2 patients end stage renal disease developed. The remaining 18 patients had serial sterile urine cultures and with a mean serum creatinine plus or minus SD of 0.8 +/- 0.3 mg.%. Conclusions: Ureteroneocystostomy is indicated for patients with persistent obstruction after high diversion or those with persistent reflux or obstruction and recurrent infections despite adequate valve ablation and a stable bladder. However, the procedure is associated with a high rate of postoperative reflux. Psoas hitch has a significant role in prevention of reflux.