Severity of hemorrhagic cystitis and failure of noninvasive management correlate with several identifiable risk factors. Prospective identification of patients with these risk factors may allow for targeted early intervention in those at highest risk.
The past 30 years have seen broad changes in the diagnosis and management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Recently, a clinical debate has generated an open discussion in academic circles. New evidence has shifted treatment patterns away from widespread surgical management and recently brought into question some pharmacologic treatments. VUR is usually not hazardous by itself but is a significant risk factor for urinary tract infection (UTI) and less commonly, renal scarring and insufficiency. Given the costs and morbidity of UTI as well as the potential for significant renal injury, our approach remains conservative. Careful follow-up, parental education about pathophysiology and management of VUR and UTI, and management of bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD) when present, are the foundation of treatment. Additionally, though we recognize the limitation of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP), we believe the benefits outweigh the risks and costs for many patients. Careful observation can be considered in patients with a single medical home, parental understanding of what UTI signs and symptoms are, low grade VUR, no history of complicated UTIs and close follow-up. Surgical management remains a relevant option for select patients who fail conservative measures with breakthrough UTIs or failure to resolve. Minimally invasive surgical options are available with acceptable outcomes though open ureteroneocystostomy still carries the highest success rate.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations –citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.