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Purpose: Siblings of patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) are at greater risk of having reflux than the general population, and the role of screening in this group is widely accepted. While voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is the gold standard for diagnosis of VUR, ultrasound (US) is often used for screening select patients. We examine the outcomes of a conventional US screening program in older asymptomatic siblings. Materials and Methods: Between 1984 and 2003 asymptomatic siblings older than 5 years as well as children whose parents refused VCUG were screened with conventional US and urine studies. If US showed a discrepancy in renal size, renal scarring or hydronephrosis, or a change in the size of the renal pelvis during the study, then VCUG was performed. Additionally, any child with a normal US who subsequently had symptoms of urinary tract infection was then referred for VCUG. Chart review was performed and 117 siblings were identified who met these criteria (age range 2 months to 15 years). An attempt was made to contact all 117 siblings to obtain long-term followup data. Results: Of the 117 siblings 11 (9.4%) were referred for VCUG secondary to abnormal US findings (9) and development of urinary tract infection (2). VCUG was negative in the 2 symptomatic children, while 5 of the 9 (55.6%) with abnormal US were found to have VUR. Telephone contact was established with 85 of the 117 (72.6%) siblings or their parents (average followup 8.3 years, range 2 months to 19 years). All 85 siblings with available followup information had normal US, and none had had symptoms or complications of VUR since screening. Conclusions: Given the lower incidence and seemingly innocuous nature of VUR in older asymptomatic siblings of known patients with reflux, observation alone in this group is an acceptable form of management. If either parental or physician anxiety exists in this approach, then conventional US offers a reliable alternative to invasive VCUG screening in this population.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The urethrovesical anastomosis is one of the most challenging steps during radical prostatectomy. In this presented technique of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using barbed sutures, a primary waterproof anastomosis can be achieved due to reduced suture slippage. Therefore the transurethral catheter can be neglected in favor of a suprapubic urinary diversion. METHODS: Between January 2011 and October 2012 RARP was performed in 571 patients. A double sheathed barbed suture was used for the urethrovesical anastomosis. To achieve a dorsal reconstruction, a primary waterproof anastomosis was established by employing a semicircular suture utilizing the van Velthoven technique with integrated “Rocco-stitch”. A leak-proof anastomosis was necessary to maintain the desired intravesical volume of more than 300 cc for a safe placement of the suprapubic catheter followed by the intraoperative removal of the transurethral catheter. RESULTS: Preoperatively 8 out of 571 patients had to be excluded from the study because of an urethral stricture needing internal urethrotomy with subsequent Foley catheter insertion. In 524 (93%) the anastomosis was already watertight intraoperatively and a suprapubic urinary diversion could be placed. 509 patients (90,4%) showed a radiologically sufficient anastomosis as early as the fifth postoperative day and spontaneous micturition was permitted. In 37 patients (6,6%) a renewed intermittent urinary diversion was briefly necessary due to urinary retention, urinary tract infection or extravasation confirmed by repeated cystogram. CONCLUSIONS: In more than 90% of the patients a primary waterproof anastomosis could be accomplished by a delicate anastomosis technique with integrated Rocco stitch using barbed sutures. Suprapubic urinary diversion makes the omission of a transurethral catheter achievable and prevents repeated Foley catheter placement in case of swelling of the anastomosis region. Particularly for the patients’ postoperative comfort and minimized catheter-related trauma for the anastomosis, a minimized duration of transurethral catheter is desirable und possible employing this technique.

A prospective study was begun more than 10 years ago to identify the incidence of vesicoureteral reflux in the siblings of patients with reflux. A total of 354 siblings of 275 index patients was screened with a voiding cystourethrogram for the presence of reflux. Of the siblings tested 119 (34%) were found to have reflux, including 75% who were asymptomatic. Reflux was present in a significant percentage of younger siblings. No correlation with index patient reflux grade, sex or established renal damage could be related to the likelihood of sibling reflux. A slightly higher rate of reflux was found in the female siblings of female index patients, which is a variation from the initial study. The incidence of renal damage was significantly reduced in the siblings with reflux compared to the index patients, which was also true in the youngest patients, who are believed to be the most susceptible to reflux-mediated renal damage. Sibling reflux screening can be justified due to a high percentage of siblings found to have reflux without symptoms and a significant decrease in renal damage compared to the index patients. Aggressive screening in young children (less than 5 years old) is still advisable, although this recommendation has been modified for older children. Additional information will be needed before the genetic transmission of reflux can be clarified.

Diurnal incontinence secondary to dysfunctional voiding is a problem that is commonly encountered by the pediatric urologist. We have observed that reflux is more common in these children and hypothesized that urinary tract infection would influence the rate of reflux as well as the rate of significant urinary tract abnormalities, such as renal scarring. We prospectively evaluated 308 incontinent children with a voiding cystourethrogram and upper tract studies. Of these patients 162 (53%) had had previous culture proved urinary tract infection, while 146 (47%) had no history of infection. A total of 90 patients (29%) had an abnormal voiding cystourethrogram, which demonstrated reflux in all but 1. Among the patients with a history of urinary tract infection reflux was found in 34% compared to 23.3% in those with no history of urinary tract infection (p = 0.82). Five patients had significant cortical scarring, of whom 4 had grade III or greater reflux along with urinary tract infection. We conclude that urinary tract infection is not helpful in determining which patients with dysfunctional voiding will exhibit vesicoureteral reflux but it is important in detecting significant upper tract abnormalities, such as renal scarring. We discuss appropriate evaluation in children who present with incontinence secondary to dysfunctional voiding with or without urinary tract infections.

Vesicoureteral reflux is now recognized to be hereditary and familial. The incidence of reflux in siblings has proved to be significant but less is known about the incidence of reflux in the offspring of known reflux patients. In an ongoing prospective series of reflux screening we identified 23 patients of childbearing age with a known history of reflux and screened their 36 offspring with an awake voiding cystourethrogram. Of these 36 offspring 24 (66%) exhibited vesicoureteral reflux. The literature was also reviewed to determine the incidence of parent/child reflux from reported cases. This review revealed a 65% rate of reflux in the offspring of known patients. Our preliminary results coupled with those in the literature signify a need to screen the offspring of known reflux patients and suggest a rethinking of the genetic transmission for this trait. While vesicoureteral reflux could still be a multifactorial genetic trait with a major gene, consideration must also be given to an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.

Renal masses in childhood rarely contain adipose tissue as a major component. We report a case of teratoid Wilms tumor, an atypical variant of nephroblastoma, in which bilateral renal masses were found on computerized tomography to have a high fat content. Previously reported cases have had clinical characteristics in common with our case. However, our patient died of metastatic disease, which to our knowledge has not been previously described.

Cyclophosphamide cystitis with a high grade of vesicoureteral reflux can lead to rapid renal deterioration. Conventional ureteral reimplantation is inadvisable and urinary diversion, although providing a temporary solution, could lead to long-term complications, particularly in children. We present a case of cyclophosphamide cystitis with vesicoureteral reflux and upper tract deterioration managed successfully with ileocecocystoplasty* This method of management should be considered early in such a patient.

Of 60 surgically removed multicystic, dysplastic kidneys examined for the presence of nodular renal blastema only 1 (2 per cent) had blastematous elements. Of the 60 patients 35 were from the authors’ personal series and they were examined in clinical detail. The results of this study and those in the literature are discussed in relation to the over-all management of the asymptomatic multicystic, dysplastic kidney.

Since 1976, 23 patients with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis were treated. These patients presented with a variety of urinary problems, including incontinence, hematuria and vesicoureteral reflux. Vesicoureteral reflux was found in 9 patients, hydronephrosis in 4 and a contracted fibrotic bladder in 3. Of the 23 patients 18 had undergone a combination of radiation and cyclophosphamide therapy.Rased on this experience a general outline is developed for evaluation and treatment of patients with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis and its potentially severe complications.

Children with posterior urethral valves and significant changes in the upper urinary tracts generally respond to initial fulguration of the valves and decompression of the bladder. Infrequently, a higher grade of obstruction of the ureters will develop after initial treatment. We report on 2 such children with this particular clinical course and discuss the management. The response of our patients indicates that acute obstruction at the ureterovesical junction is, in some cases, temporary and may not require longer term supravesical diversion procedures for proper management.

Ureteral calculi were found in 5 children who were receiving or had recently completed remission induction therapy for acute leukemia or lymphoma. All 5 patients had abdominal or back pain and 3 had gross hematuria. The diagnosis of urolithiasis was suggested by excretory urograms that showed obstructive uropathy (4 patients) and by computerized tomography scans that demonstrated ureterovesical obstruction (1 patient with acute renal failure and anuria). With a single exception the calculi were not associated with urinary tract infections. Chemical analyses in the 2 patients tested indicated that the stones were composed of calcium, in contrast to the uric acid and xanthine compositions of stones in earlier studies of patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Factors that might have predisposed our patients to calculi formation include corticosteroid therapy, immobilization owing to bed rest and urinary alkalization. Other possible contributing factors were urinary stasis (2 patients) and a familial tendency for renal calculi to develop. There was no evidence of idiopathic hypercalciuria in either patient tested. Prompt detection of urolithiasis in children undergoing induction chemotherapy for a malignant disease may avoid potentially serious consequences from urinary tract obstruction.