Hydronephrosis dilated right kidney

[hanbee]

Hi everyone

I wondered if anyone can help me try not to get too worried about DS2. He was diagnosed with the above at our 20 weeks scan, scanned at 1 day old and put on prophylactic antibiotics. His kidney dilatation measured 19mm at birth. He was rescanned at 3 months and had a micturating cystoscope (?) which showed no reflux from his bladder and kidney dilatation at 20mm. He was taken off the antibs as a result. He was scanned again in June at 8 months and his kidney measured 21mm and we were told if it remained stable he would be discharged.

Sadly we just had his next scan and the dilatation had increase hugely to 33mm. Obviously his kidney function has decreased.

We see the paediatrician on Monday but I was just wondering if anyone had had a similar experience and can offer any words of wisdom or tell me what might happen next. Fearing that he'll need an operation.

Hi Hanbee,
Not sure if I can offer any information to help but watching this thread closely as my DS also has hydronephrosis (left kidney). It wasn't picked up until he was 3months old & we were told it was a mild-moderate case. Since then he's had recurrent kidney infections and is also on prophylactic antibiotics. He also had a MCUG & Mag 3 Renogram which showed no reflux and no change in the level of dilation.

We met a Renal Surgeon in July who told us that surgery was generally a last option & most cases resolve by themselves. He said that surgical intervention was usually a stent to widen the urethra but it would depend on the cause of the dilation. As he has had so many infections recently we're due to see a nephrologist next week so hopefully we'll get some answers too. I do remember the surgeon reassuring us that not all cases require surgery but that surgical intervention was very straightforward if it was required! Hope you get some answers, know how worrying it all is!

Thanks for your reply NatureandNurture. DS2 was due to have a MAG3 but for done reason they changed their minds after he was born. I wonder if that is what we'll have next then?
Luckily I don't think he's had an infection yet, and the latest scan showed no scarring. DHs niece had reflux which resolved by the time she was 3 but DHs uncle had a kidney removed in adulthood and was told it was v damaged and had probably never worked properly. I guess there may be something genetic there with variable outcomes.

Let me know how your DS gets on, how old is he?

Han

My third child was found to have the same at our 20 week scan,he was monitored and put on Trimethoprim when he was born. Was continued to be scanned every 3 months and the kidney measurement was up and down. He eventually needed surgery at Guy's hospital just before his 2nd birthday. He had two things going on though. He had reflux, where the valves either end of the ureter didn't open and close properly and he had a thining of the actual tube. The op went well and he has no problems since (he is now 14!)

Two of my other sons had the same thing. My older sons was only found when the whole family was scanned as it is an hereditary condition. He had had kidney infections without us knowing when he was young and has been left with scarred kidneys. This may or may not cause problems when he is older. My other sons was caught at the 20 week scan and his fixed itself by his first birthday.

They may keep monitoring it for a while, how old is he?? Most cases to clear themselves.

hello, have just seen this and my DD had the same at my 20wk scan (shes now a feisty 7yo) anyway she was scanned at birth and given ABs.

she was rescanned at 4 weeks and the problem had resolved itself.

fingers crossed that your DS does not need an operation

I will of course, let me know how your appointment goes too. Our DS has just turned one. What age is your little guy? There's a family history of kidney problems on my husbands side so we were wondering about a genetic component too. Fairies, that's interesting about your boys, our son's hydronephrosis was picked up incidentally and we're always anxious about not picking up on his kidney infections-becoming experts at smelling nappies.... Know it often resolves but it's so worrying isn't it?

Hi

Wow! Thanks for all the replies, it's reassured me that at least we know about it and it can be sorted.
DS2 is nearly 14months so very similar age to your little one Nature.

Hi

Just had our appointment and told likely MAG3 to look for an obstruction and waiting to hear from the urologists at Bristol about what they want to do next. Told it's very likely he'll need an op .

Oh Hanbee, sorry to hear that. Any idea how long you will be waiting for the Mag3? How are u feeling about it?

We've our appointment with the nephrologist tomorrow and can't come soon enough as worried he has another infection.

Hope you're not too worried!

Hi Nature

The paediatrician is ringing us as soon as he's spoken to the urologists to tell us what their plan is. At the moment nothing concrete other than likely to be MAG3 and op. To be honest the paediatrician said he was surprised as they fully excepted it to stay stable.

I'm not really worried just disappointed and a bit sad. My older son has special needs and his having blood tests for genetics tomorrow. I had major surgery a month ago to remove an abdominal tumour. I just feel a bit overloaded with problems and a bit "why us" at the moment. Which is unlike me as normally I'm quite positive and think you just have to get on with what life throws at you. It just feels like we have an unfair burden of medical issues at the moment.

I'll give myself a big kick up the bum in a minute and stop feeling sorry for myself.

Hope it goes well tomorrow and you get some positive action. Your poor little one, I hope it turns out he doesn't have another uti.

Han