Vesicoureteral Reflux
A normal urinary system functions by passing urine produced by the kidneys through the ureters to the bladder which stores urine. At the bottom of the bladder, there is the urethra through which urine flows out of the body. In the male urethra, the penis is the organ through which urine gets flushed out of the body, and in the female urethra, it’s the vagina.
Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) is a urological condition wherein the urine flow is backward from the bladder into the ureter(s) and kidney(s). Arete Hospitals urology department in Hyderabad is one of the leading centres to diagnose and treat vesicoureteral reflux in patients of any age. It staffs top-notch medical specialists and urologists in Hyderabad who offer an integrated approach to take comprehensive, personalised care of children with vesicoureteral reflexes. They use advanced technologies and techniques to treat their patients and ensure quality treatment outcomes.
Benefits of Vesicoureteral Reflux Treatment
- Treating VUR reduces the risk of urinary tract infections and reflux-related complications, which can lead to kidney damage if left untreated
- Managing VUR can alleviate discomfort, pain, and urinary symptoms, enhancing a patient's overall well-being.
- Treatment can restore proper urine flow and prevent urine from flowing backwards into the kidneys.
- Addressing VUR during childhood can prevent future kidney problems and the need for more extensive treatments in adulthood.
- Parents can have confidence that their child's urinary health is being managed effectively, relieving anxiety and tension associated with the condition.
Types of Vesicoureteral Reflux Addressed at Arete Hospitals
The Best Doctors For Vesicoureteral Reflux Surgery Treatment in Hyderabad at Arete Hospitals are experts in treating both of these kinds of vesicoureteral reflux.
Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux- Most patients suffer from this type and report one kidney and ureter getting affected. Children who have this condition are born with ureters not properly implanted into the bladder. There is no proper closure of the flap valve between the ureter and bladder wall and so the urine black flows from the bladder to the ureter. Such a condition can improve as a child grows old because of the intramuscular tunnel getting longer which further improves the functioning of the flap valve.
Secondary Vesicoureteral Reflux- This condition is the result of a blockage anywhere in the urinary tract. The blockage causes an increase in pressure and leads to urine reflux into the child’s bladder, ureter, and even kidney. It could happen because of an unusual fold of tissue in the urethra that prevents the free-flowing of urine out of the child’s bladder. Another reason could be a nerve problem that could not stimulate the bladder to release urine. Children who suffer from this condition often experience bilateral reflux- in both kidneys.
Diagnostic Services for Vesicoureteral Reflux
Urologists order for following imaging tests to diagnose Vesicoureteral reflux:
- Radionuclide cystogram (RNC)- It is a nuclear scan wherein a radioactive material is placed in the child’s bladder and a scanner detects it as the child is asked to urinate. Its images are interpreted by radiologists. To perform this test, some children may need sedation.
- Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG)- It is an X-ray imaging of the child’s bladder and urethra before, during, and after urination. The procedure involves placing a small catheter in the urethra to fill the bladder with a special dye that an X-ray machine can detect. This test helps check if urine flow is backward from the bladder and ureters to the kidneys or normal. Some children may need sedation to undergo this test.
- Ultrasound imaging- It is a safe, painless diagnostic technique wherein sound waves are focussed on the abdomen from the inside to create pictures of the inside of the urinary tract. It may be recommended before RNC or VCUG to avoid exposure to radioactive material or X-ray radiation. This test does not give information about the grade of vesicoureteral reflux. It is usually recommended for infants who are diagnosed with urine blockage while they are in the uterus; children with UTI, children with a family history of VUR, and males with UTI who aren’t sexually active.
- Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan- This test looks for kidney scarring that could develop because of kidney infection. It is recommended only if an ultrasound of the kidney is abnormal.
After a diagnosis of VUR, the children would need other tests like blood pressure checks, urine analysis, blood tests, and checking for symptoms of bowel and bladder problems. All this happens at the urology department of Arete Hospitals. To learn more contact Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) Surgeon in Hyderabad, India.
Good Candidates for Vesicoureteral Reflux Treatment
Vesicoureteral reflux treatment is usually needed by children who have urinary tract infections, as they are more likely to have VUR.
VUR treatment in Hyderabad is meant for those who show the following symptoms of urinary tract infection and are diagnosed with VUR.
- Fever
- Lower or upper backache
- Lower abdominal pain
- Pain or burning sensation while urinating
- Urge to urinate more often
- Bladder leakage
- Too little urine passing out
- Cloudy and foul-smelling urine.
Treatments Available for Vesicoureteral Reflux
The Treatment Options for Vesicoureteral Reflux in Hyderabad depend upon the patient’s age, symptoms, and type and severity of Vesicoureteral reflux.
Paediatric Urologists in Hyderabad will determine the best treatment for the child’s Vesicoureteral reflux. Here are the ways to manage Vesicoureteral reflux in children:
For Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux
- Antibiotics- These are prescribed to treat urinary tract infections including bladder and kidney functions.
- Other medications- These include angiot-ensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. They help in treating high blood pressure which further can slow down kidney damage.
- Surgery- This is recommended for children who have Vesicoureteral reflux with repeated Urinary tract infections, especially if there is scarring in the kidney and severe urine reflux. There are several surgical approaches available to address the link between the ureters and bladder and avoid urine reflux.
The goal standard procedure to surgically correct primary VUR is Ureteral Reimplant in Hyderabad. In this operation, a flap-valve mechanism is created. This means an appropriate length tunnel is used to reroute the ureter in the bladder wall so that urine flow is not back up into the ureter. The procedure can be performed in various ways, including open surgery and robotic-assisted surgery. In open surgery, a small abdominal incision is made by either opening the bladder (intravesical) or just outside the bladder (extravesical). Typically, the patient would need at least one night's stay at the hospital after this surgery.
An injectable dissolvable bulking agent- Hyaluronic acid or Dextra-nome (Deflux)- a gel, like liquid containing complex sugars, is injected into the child’s bladder wall close to the ureteral opening. This injection makes the tissues bulge and acts as a valve to prevent urine reflux. However, as the child patient grows older, Deflux gradually breaks down by the body and gets replaced with the child’s tissues. This 30-minute, outpatient procedure is an alternative to surgery which is done under general anaesthesia.
For Secondary Vesicoureteral Reflux
The treatment involves the removal of the blockage or improving the emptying of the bladder. It may include:
- Antibiotics- to prevent or treat urinary tract infections
- Bladder muscles medication- to calm overactive bladder and treat urge incontinence
- Surgery- to remove the obstruction or correct an abnormal ureter or bladder
- Short-term catheterization- A catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine from the bladder.
Side Effects from Vesicoureteral Reflux Treatment
- Swelling
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Irritated bladder
- Failure of the treatment.
For more details contact Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) Surgeon in Hyderabad, India at Arete Hospitals.
1. Who is more likely to have vesicoureteral reflux?
Vesicoureteral reflux is mostly seen in infants and younger children aged 2 years. It usually affects children who have abnormal urinary tract or kidneys. Girls are more likely to have vesicoureteral reflux than boys. Moreover, the condition is prevalent if one has a family history of the same condition. About 1% to 3% of children who suffer from urinary tract infection with fever experience vesicoureteral reflux.
2. Can I prevent vesicoureteral reflux in my child?
No, vesicoureteral reflux is unavoidable. But the patient can commit to good habits to have a healthy urinary tract. To avoid bladder control problems and infection in your child, you should have your child drink adequate water daily. Your child should follow good washroom habits, such as regularly having bowel and bladder movements and wiping from front to back after urinating. Your child must get treated for constipation, if necessary or just switch to a healthy fibre-rich diet. You must change the diaper of your child as soon as it gets dirty. Moreover, you must get your child treated for urinary or faecal incontinence, if present. Contact Best Doctors for Vesicoureteral Reflux in Hyderabad for more details.
3. What are the complications of vesicoureteral reflux in children?
Children with vesicoureteral reflux could experience urinary tract infections, including infections of the bladder and kidneys; hypertension, constipation, Bladder problems including bedwetting, urinary incontinence, and urinary retention; Kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome), scarring, and chronic kidney failure (rare). Contact Arete Hospitals for Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) correction in children.
Various factors affect Vesicoureteral Reflux treatment cost in Hyderabad and this include the patient's age, the severity of the condition, choice of healthcare facility, diagnostic tests, medications, and surgical procedures, potentially ranging from conservative management to surgical correction.
