Treatment of hydronephrosis in newborn infants. Apropos of 18 cases diagnosed by antenatal ultrasonography

: Results are reported of therapy of 18 neonates in whom obstetrical ultrasound imaging had demonstrated uni- or bilateral pyelo-caliceal dilatation due to stenosis of pyelo-ureteral junction (18 children--2 hydronephroses). Neonatal biologic, ultrasound and urographic examinations confirmed presence and assessed importance of the hydronephrosis. As a function of findings therapy consisted of immediate operation (10 neonates), delayed surgery (5 cases) or surveillance (3 cases). Severe uni- or bilateral forms, classified stage III or IV were operated upon immediately, sometimes as emergencies. Less severe cases (stage III) were operated upon after 1 to 3 months, and the minor forms (stage II) were the object of simple surveillance. The operative technique used for treatment of the hydronephros was the Andersson-Hynes operation, anastomosis in 9 cases involving microsurgical procedures. Emphasis is placed on the serious nature of these neonatal forms, often bilateral or associated with contralateral uropathy. In utero shunts during the antenatal period are excluded, therapy being decided after birth. Based on their experience, the authors underline the reliability of early microsurgical pyeloplasty which appears to be the operation of choice in neonates at the present time.