My unborn babyboy has unilateral hydronephrosis?

Question

Has anyone ever had this problem? if so is it not a permanant thing? or can it be fixed permantly? I want to also transfer to another hospital which is in tx and im in hi.. do you think they would let me fly at 8 months??

Answer 1

Definition:
Unilateral hydronephrosis is swelling of one kidney due to a backup of urine.

See also: Bilateral hydronephrosis

Alternative Names:
Hydronephrosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Hydronephrosis is a condition that occurs with a disease and is not a disease itself. Treatment and prognosis for unilateral hydronephrosis depend what is causing the kidney swelling.

Conditions that are often associated with unilateral hydronephrosis include:

Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy
Chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy
Vesicoureteric reflux (backflow of urine from bladder to kidney)
Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Hydronephrosis that occurs without a known cause during pregnancy
Unilateral hydronephrosis occurs in approximately 1 in 100 people.

Symptoms:
Flank pain
Abdominal mass
Nausea and vomiting
Urinary tract infection
Fever
Dysuria
Increased urinary frequency
Increased urinary urgency
Note: Sometimes unilateral hydronephrosis does not have symptoms.
Signs and tests:
Unilateral hydronephrosis is usually identified with tests such as the following:

Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
Isotope renography (radio-isotope scan of the kidneys)
Ultrasound of the kidneys or abdomen
CT scan of the kidneys or abdomen
Abdominal MRI

Treatment:
Treatment may include:

A ureteral stent (tube that allows the ureter to drain into the bladder)
A nephrostomy tube (allows the blocked urine to drain through the back)
Antibiotics for infections
Patients who have only one kidney, who have immune-compromising disorders such as diabetes or HIV, or who have received a transplant should be treated promptly.

Preventative antibiotics may be prescribed to decrease the risk of urinary tract infections in patients who have long-term hydronephrosis.

Expectations (prognosis):
Prolonged hydronephrosis results in the eventual loss of kidney function.

Complications:
If hydronephrosis is left untreated, the affected kidney may be permanently damaged. kidney insufficiency or kidney failure is rare with unilateral hydronephrosis because the other kidney usually functions normally. However, if the patient has only one functioning kidney, kidney failure will occur.

Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if you have prolonged or severe flank pain, or if you suspect hydronephrosis.

Answer 2

I am an ultrasound technologist specializing in OB/GYN.

Unilateral hydronephrosis means there is an excess amount of fluid (urine) collected within the fetal ureter. The amout which is exceptable changes with gestational age. Hydronephrosis is often caused by a uretropelvic junction obstruction and is seen more in males than in females. The obstruction USUALLY is just because there is a kink in ther ureter, which travels from the kidney to the bladder. As the fetus grows the kink commonly straightens out. Typically, a repeat ultrasound exam should be done in the late 3rd trimester to see if the dilated ureter is still an issue. If so, it should be followed once the baby is born. Still, it can correct itself but if not, and if damage is being done to the kidney because of it, surgical intervention is warranted. Babies with UPJ obstruction have a higher tendency to get urinary tract infections, so it is good that you know about the obstruction in advance.

Depending on the gestational age at which the hydronephrosis was diagnosed and other factors, you may need to discus genetic screening/testing with your OB doctor. If a ureter is dilated 4mm or greater is CAN be associated with Down Syndrome. Do not panic! This does NOT mean your baby has Down syndrom. What it means is your baby should have a detailed, Level II ultrasound examination which is targeted for chromosomal abnormalities. If you are age 35 or older, this also puts you at a higher risk for chromosomal abnormalities. If you are not age 35 or older (Advanced Maternal Age, ie AMA) AND you had a normal Multiple Marker screen (MMS, a blood test to assess your risk of Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida), and the rest of your ultrasound was normal, the likelyhood of there being a chromosomal abnormality is very, very slim (and NO ONE has ZERO chance).

If your Multiple Marker blood test had you at a higher risk than your age-related risk you may want to consider genetic testing since there was hydronephrosis. However, genetic testing which provides 100% accuracy (no false positives and no false negatives) would be an amniocentesis, which involves needle aspiration of a sample of amniotic fluid to look at the actural chromosomes of the fetus. There are risks involved with the procedure, including infection and fetal death so you would need to think seriously what you would do with the information if it came back positive for Down Syndrome, i.e, would you abort? If not, the risk is for nothing but information.

Again, most likely your babt DOES NOT have Down Syndrome. But because the dilated renal pelvis is ONE OF MANY MINOR problems we look for during an ultrasound exam to screen for DS, and because of the UPJ obstruction, it is something commented on in the doctors report of the exam.

Please talk to your doctor about your concerns.

As for flying.....I do not know the answer to that question.

PS if you need more information, just add it to your question. I will check back later and if you need me, I;ll try to help.

Answer 3

Unilateral hydronephrosis is swelling of one kidney due to a backup of urine.

Hydronephrosis is a condition that occurs with a disease and is not a disease itself. Treatment and prognosis for unilateral hydronephrosis depend what is causing the kidney swelling.

Treatment may include:

* A ureteral stent (tube that allows the ureter to drain into the bladder)
* A nephrostomy tube (allows the blocked urine to drain through the back)
* Antibiotics for infections

I hope all goes well! It is treatable and correctable if you get the treatment!

Answer 4

This condition is caused by some form of blockage in the tube that drains urine from the kidney.
Treatment of fetal hydronephrosis is usually postponed until after delivery. Only in the most severe cases (in which the loss of kidney function is expected if left untreated to delivery) is intrauterine surgery attempted during the pregnancy. In these most severe cases, an attempt is made to place a drain through the baby's back into the kidney to allow passage of urine and relief of the pressure in the kidney. This is done with endoscopic instruments inserted through mother's abdomen into the uterus (womb) itself. Because of the risks of preterm labor, infection, injury to baby or mother, and poor outcome, this procedure is reserved for the most severe cases.
Less severe cases are treated after delivery, and the kidney usually recovers well and there are no long-term problems. Treatment involves surgery, either major or minor, to correct whatever is causing the blockage of urine or to repair the valves of the ureter to prevent back flow of urine from the bladder.

Answer 5

This is a problem of one kidney being swollen because the urine has backed up into it. I have had a problem similar to this (vesico-ureteral reflux) all of my life and have not had any major complications -yet- because of it. When your baby is born, he will probably undergo treatment (antibiotics most likely) to try to fix this problem. Other wise he may need surgery. But if it isn't treated, he could eventually lose function of that kidney...which isn't a huge problem if his other kidney is fine but it is something that will need to be monitored.
Most airlines do not let you fly if you are 8 months pregnant. They might make an exception since that is the only way you would be able to get to another hospital but you will probably need written permission from your doctor.

Answer 6

You should discuss flying with your OB. As for the hydronephrosis, you can find information on it and it treatment, prognosis at emedicine.com. An excellent website with medical information.

Answer 7

Have you discussed this with your OB? They can refer you to a nephrologist, and you can meet with them before the baby is born to map out a course of treatment before the baby is born. You NEED to meet with them.
I don't know how smart it would be to transfer your care this late in the pregnancy unless this has been suggested to enable you to have the best care available for your baby.
Discuss this with your OB.
Good luck, follow your doctor's advice, and love on that little one from now until forever!!

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I have no clue what you are going through, but felt compelled to wish you good luck. I would do whatever it took to get on that plane if I thought it was in the best interest of my child.
Hoping for a happy outcome for you!!

Answer 10

Personally, I hate the identify Mark. Too uninteresting, stupid, and now not very fashioned. It's now not a "wow" identify. My favorite is Drake. It's undying and now not too typical. That's simply my opinion, you must prefer a reputation on what you and your husband each love :)