Treatment
Treatment for urine blockage depends on the cause and severity of
the blockage. Hydronephrosis discovered before the baby is born will rarely
require immediate action, especially if it is only on one side. Often the
condition goes away without any treatment before birth or sometimes after. The
doctor will keep track of the condition with frequent ultrasounds. With few
exceptions, treatment can wait until the baby is born.
Prenatal Shunt
If the urine blockage threatens the life of the unborn baby,
the doctor may recommend a procedure to insert a small tube, called a shunt,
into the baby's bladder to release urine into the amniotic sac. The placement of
the shunt is similar to an amniocentesis, in that a needle is inserted through
the mother's abdomen. Ultrasound guides the placing of the shunt. This fetal
surgery carries many risks, so it is performed only in special circumstances,
such as when the amniotic fluid is absent and the baby's lungs aren't developing
or when the kidneys are very severely damaged.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria. A newborn with
possible urine blockage or VUR may be given antibiotics to prevent urinary tract
infections from developing until the urinary defect corrects itself or is
surgically corrected.
Surgery
If the urinary defect doesn't correct itself and the child continues
to have urine blockage, surgery may be needed. The decision to operate depends
upon the degree of blockage. The surgeon will remove the obstruction to restore
urine flow. A small tube, called a stent, may be placed in the ureter or urethra
to keep it open temporarily while healing occurs.
Intermittent Catheterization
If the child has urine retention because of
nerve disease, the condition may be treated with intermittent catheterization.
The parent, and later the child, will be taught to drain the bladder by
inserting a thin tube, called a catheter, through the urethra to the bladder.
Emptying the bladder in this way helps prevent kidney damage, overflow
incontinence, and urinary tract infections.