Bilateral hydronephrosis

[Sammyslater]

Hi, I've come on to see if anyone can give me advice on bilteral hydronephrosis. I'm currently reaching 21 weeks pregnant but at my 20 week scan I was told our baby boys kidneys were dilated one measuring 12mm the other 7mm, the consultant at the time thinks its partial blockage because amniotic fluid is normal and apart from bladder also being full but not dilated everything else is developing perfectly. My question is in cases like this what's the likeliest outcome for my unborn child and the rest of my pregnancy? Do babies regularly get through this traumatic time and reading my story/ measurement would you class this as mild/moderate or severe case of bilateral hydronephrosis? Thank you for your time, your advice is appreciated x

Sorry sammy I don't know anything about it but didnt want you to go unanswered at this fraught time. Hopefully someone who knows more will be long soon.

My Ds1 had bilateral hydro nephrotic, I was induced at 38 weeks just in case he needed treatment,this resulted in a rather traumatic emergency CS under a general anaesthetic. However, he was scanned at one day old and his kidney problems had completely resolved by them selves. This happens quite often apparently. 15 years later the stress is a distant memory but it was very worrying At the time.

I can't remember the measurements I'm afraid, too long ago, but they were significant and I needed up having many scans from the consultant ( who used me as a teaching aid!)

I am sorry to hear of your worry...this must have been very stressful news. I don't know much about this but I've got this information for you...

approximately half of all prenatally identified hydronephrosis is transient, and resolves by the time the infant is born

so half of all the babies who are diagnosed whilst still in the womb make a full recovery because it dissapears.

Children who have this condition due to a blockage..or stone...will also stand a very good chance of recovery....as it says on Wkipedia

For example, unilateral hydronephrosis caused by an obstructing stone will likely resolve when the stone passes, and the likelihood of recovery is excellent.

here are some links to other sites where people have discussed similar situations

community.babycenter.com/post/a7693435/mommies_carrying_babies_with_hydronephrosis_enlarged_kidneys

community.babycentre.co.uk/post/a24413671/bilateral_hydronephrosis_detected_20_week_scan

choroidplexuscyst.org/forum/index.php?topic=1783.0;wap2

I hope that you can get some more information soon from your specialist.xxxx

Thank u all I really appreciate your comments and advice, hopefully kidneys won't worsen and as our boy grows in the womb things get better x

Hi everyone, just a brief update. We've seen a specialist and our baby has a partial blockage within the urethra valves, the case of hydronephrosis is mild at present measuring 8mm both sides, we think this is because the blockage is partial and urine flow still exists. Obviously praying to god now it clears before birth but if not we hope it doesn't get worse atleast as mild case is alot easier to treat. Reading what we've now been told does anyone have any experience in this and know what the most common outcome is? Think the problem is called puv but its not a full blockage if anyone can give some advice or reassuring words? Xx thank u

Well that sounds very reassuring for you Sammy. {hug} Just wanted to say that I hope it clears up for you and this will all be a memory. Your baby obviously has a very amazing Mum already...xxx

Thank you Neo, I hope he thinks so to when he arrives, now all I can do is sit and wait and pray for the best outcome from this nightmare x

Hi Sammy. I have 5 children and 4 out of the 5 were diagnosed with mild to moderate/severe hydrphrenosis ante-natally. The case with dd1 seems the most similar to yours (the others had no cause (put down to 'immaturity of the collecting system' and resolved (or were resolving) at 10 weeks post-natal.

With dd1 bilateral hydrophrenosis was diagnosed at around 16 weeks, and progressively worsened as she grew (so by 36 weeks renal pelves measuring around 15mm). When she was born we weren't scanned immediately and she came back to clinic at 5 weeks old. The dilation was still there so she was put on antibiotics as a preventive measure as urine infections can be more common in this situation with the urine 'refluxing' back up to the bladder. THis helps to prevent any possible scarring to the kidney. She was then referred to Alder Hey for a bladder x-ray and another procedure (mitating cystiogram??) which would identify what the cause of the problem was (it had never been identified in utero). There did seem evidence of a blockage of some sort, and proposed rescanning and if necessary a small opp to remove blockage. On the next scan though everything had resolved, as we were told is quite common. I was quite reassured however about how successful the op was, and had no real concerns if this was indeed the route we would have had to take.
Dd1 is now 12 so procedures/guidelines may have changed. I do remember how stressful all the constant scanning was though, and you have my sympathies. Sounds like you at least have a diagnosis though and that things are looking good xx

Hi diege, thank you very much for tellin me your story and how things were for your child and children, I'm so surprised that 4 of your children all had the hydronephrosis this must have been such a shock for you. Are all your children healthy now if you don't mind me asking, and if you can remember do u know whether your dd1 measurements were anywhere near 8mm in each kidney at 20weeks? Do you think we're better finding out so early, my only concern is the problem getting worse which I seriously hope it doesn't and hope it never effects amniotic fluid and kidney function in anyway, my next appointment is in 6 week so I'm praying to god things either have gotten better by then or atleast stayed the same and whatever we have to deal with we will get our little man the best treatment to get him back to full health when he arrives xx thank u again for replying to my post x

Hi again . If I remember correctly the first measurements for dd1 were taken at 15 weeks (triple test results came back high risk so had a detailed scan). They were in the 'mild' category then (5-6mm). At the 20 week scan they measured around 10mm (still 'mild') but the dilation did get progressively bigger. Remember that as baby grows so does the kidney and so of course measurements will increase - it doesn't mean things are necessarily getting worse, just that they are measuring bigger as baby's organs are bigger (this is what the consultant told me).

Re: my other children, I think I was far more chilled about things when the same thing was detected on scans (though measurements never went beyond the mild/borderline moderate. In fact with dc5 the 20 week scan was normal, but a later scan at 36 weeks for something unrelated revealed hydrophrenosis with calyceal involvement, so had post-birth follow-up (all normal at 10 weeks). I have since heard that if you have it in one pregnancy it is more likely to occur in the next etc, although the experts are reluctant at admitting a hereditary link. I am currently 26 weeks with dc6 and no problems so far. I do have a later scan booked at 32 wks for a low lying placenta so I'm sure they'll find something then .
Oh and in terms of long-term health, all children healthy with only one urine infection between all of them in

Wow I hope our case results as successful as yours have, I'm so frightened things will get worse and kidney function will decrease but I'm praying this doesnt happen xx all the best for you with this pregnancy, I hope it's a perfect pregnancy for u although your other children are perfect xx

Hi Sammy, I don't know what your situation is now. I've only just seen this thread but thought I'd share my experience with you. My son was diagnosed with a PUJ obstruction at my 20 week scan. I was transferred to the John Radcliffe hospital who were fantastic. I had monthly scans to check on the progress to see if the problem would sort itself but it didn't. I was induced at 36 weeks and my son was kept in special care and a catheter fitted to him to drain his kidneys. At 5 weeks old he underwent his first pyeloplasty which cuts out the obstruction. Unfortunately there was scar tissue which meant the process had to be repeated. Over the first 2 years of his life he had undergone 5 such procedures and was on antibiotics everyday until he was 5. He did occasionally get unrine infections which usually meant intravenous antibiotics and another stay in hospital. However he is now a healthy, gorgeous 8 year old who loves sport and you wouldn't know except for an inch long scar on the side of his stomach. HTH and good luck with everything.

Aw I've just read your reply/story about your son and I thank you very much for taking the time out to send it to me. I'm sorry he's been through so much but so pleased to hear he is now a thriving 8 year old this has put a smile on my face and makes me excited for the future instead of full of worry xx it really helps hearing other people's stories an I can't thank u enough. I'm currently 33 weeks and the issue does fluctuate but hoping we can fix things when he arrives x