Posterior urethral valves

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Posterior urethral valves are an obstructive congenital defect of the male urethra.^[1]

1 Diagnosis
2 Complications
3 Treatment
4 Female homolog
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Diagnosis

Abdominal ultrasound is of some benefit, but not diagnostic. Features that suggest posterior urethral valves are:
- Bilateral hydronephrosis.
- Thickened bladder wall
- Bladder diverticula
Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) - diagnostic

[edit] Complications

[edit] Treatment

There are three treatments of the posterior urethral valves:

Vesicostomy and then valve ablation - making a stoma (a hole) in the urinary bladder, also known as high diversion, followed by closure of the stoma and valve abalation.
Pyelostomy and then valve ablation - making a stoma (a hole) in the pelvis of the kidney, also known as high diversion, followed by closure of the stoma and valve abalation.
Primary (transurethral) Valve ablation - removal of the valves through urethra, without stoma.

The standard treatment is primary (transurethral) ablation of the valves.^[2] Urinary diversion is used in selected cases,^[2] and its benefit is disputed.^[3]^[4]

[edit] Female homolog

The female homolog to the male verumontanum from which the valves originate is the hymen.

[edit] References

^ Manzoni C, Valentini A. "Posterior urethral valves.". Rays 27 (2): 131-4. PMID 12696266.
^ ^a ^b Warren J, Pike JG, Leonard MP. Posterior urethral valves in Eastern Ontario - a 30 year perspective. Can J Urol. 2004 Apr;11(2):2210-5. PMID 15182412.
^ Kim YH, Horowitz M, Combs A, Nitti VW, Libretti D, Glassberg KI. Comparative urodynamic findings after primary valve ablation, vesicostomy or proximal diversion. J Urol. 1996 Aug;156(2 Pt 2):673-6. PMID 8683757.
^ Smith GH, Canning DA, Schulman SL, Snyder HM 3rd, Duckett JW. The long-term outcome of posterior urethral valves treated with primary valve ablation and observation. J Urol. 1996 May;155(5):1730-4. PMID 8627873.