Ureteral Stricture in Children

Ureteral Stricture in Children

Ureteral stricture is among the most common urological problems in children. In this problem, which is defined as ureteropelvic stenosis (UP stenosis) in the medical literature, the urine in the kidney cannot reach the bladder. The inability of urine to reach the bladder because of stricture or obstruction in this area is a condition usually seen in male infants.

What Is Ureteral Stricture in Children and What Are Its Symptoms?

The process of filtering the blood coming to the kidney, converting the residues into urine and sending them to the bladder may be interrupted due to ureteral stricture. Ureteral stricture, a disease that needs to be treated early, is usually a congenital problem. This problem, which is usually noticed when the baby is in the womb, can be diagnosed by ultrasound during routine pregnancy evaluations. Ureteral stricture is also suspected when there is developmental delay in the womb or when the kidney is larger than normal. Other symptoms of ureteral stricture include:

• Expansion of kidneys
• Abdominal distension
• Inguinal pain
• Hematuria (blood in urine)
• Change in urine color
• Inflammation of urine

What Are the Causes of Ureteral Stenosis in Children?

Causes of ureteral stenosis in children include:

• Accumulation of stones in the lower part of the kidneys and resulting blockage of the ureteral canal
• Compression of accessory vessels in the kidney on the ureteral canal
• Kidney infection
• Connection of the ureteral duct to the kidney in an area upper than normal

Ureteral stricture problem leads to serious health problems when not treated properly. For this reason, it is recommended to consult a specialist urologist when it is diagnosed or symptoms are observed during pregnancy or newborn evaluations.

Treatment of Ureteral Stricture in Children

Ureteral stricture is a treatable disease. If the symptoms are mild, routine follow-up may be sufficient, but when severe symptoms are experienced, surgical treatment methods are considered.

Today, ureteral stricture surgery is performed by two methods. These are open and closed surgeries. In the closed technique, without the need for large incisions, the operation area is reached through the holes drilled in the relevant area and the part causing the stricture is removed. This method, which is defined as laparoscopy, is more reliable than open surgery. Complications such as infection and bleeding are minimal in the closed technique and the recovery period is shorter than in open surgery. Robotic surgery is the most up-to-date and new technique among closed surgeries. Ureteral stricture in children has been successfully treated by robotic technique in recent years. Children recover faster through robotic surgery.