Acute pyelonephritis (APN) may produce permanent renal damage (PRD), which can subsequently lead to diverse complications. We prospectively evaluated 147 females and 122 males (mean age 3.5 years) with APN in order to analyze the relationship between the presence of PRD, at the time of cortical renal scintigraphy, and age, gender, episodes of urinary tract infection (UTI), and presence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). There were 152 children studied after the first proven UTI. VUR was present in 150 children. PRD was observed in 170 children. There were no significant differences between boys and girls. PRD was found in 36.4% of children younger than 1 year and in 70.1% of those older than 1 year ( P<0.0001). Of children with VUR, 72% had PRD compared with 52% of children without VUR ( P<0.0001). Of children with a first episode of UTI, 55.9% developed PRD as did 72.6% of those with recurrent UTI ( P=0.004). Our results showed that PRD in children with APN is important, especially in the presence of VUR, recurrent UTI, and older age.

The incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) following orthotopic liver transplantation in children varies from 4% to 26% and represents a significant cause of graft loss. The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors for HAT following liver transplantation in children less than 5 years old. Seventy-three transplants were performed in 62 children under 5 years of age, including 16 for acute hepatic failure, 46 for chronic liver disease, and 11 retransplants. Twenty-four whole liver grafts (WLG) and 49 reduced size grafts (3 right lobes, 16 left lobes, and 30 left lateral segments) were transplanted. The recipient common hepatic artery was used to provide arterial inflow in 22 transplants and an infrarenal iliac conduit in 51 transplants. The overall incidence of HAT was 8 out of 73 transplants (11%). The cold ischemia time (14.3 +/- 3.03 hr) in this group was significantly longer than the cold ischemia time for those without HAT (11.7 +/- 3.94 hr) (P = 0.049). The incidence of HAT for whole and reduced grafts was 25% (6/24) and 4% (2/49), respectively (P = 0.01). HAT occurred in 6 of 22 grafts (27.3%) revascularized from the recipient common hepatic artery, compared with 2 of 51 grafts (3.9%) using an infrarenal arterial conduit (P = 0.008). The combination of recipient hepatic arterial inflow to a WLG resulted in HAT in 50% (6/12), whereas there were no cases of HAT with an iliac conduit to a WLG (P = 0.01). Of the eight patients with HAT, five are alive (median follow-up, 20 months; range, 7-27 months). Five patients were retransplanted, three within the first 2 weeks and two at 4 and 5 months for abnormal liver function in association with clinical and histological features of chronic rejection. Prolonged cold ischemia time and use of a whole graft with recipient hepatic arterial inflow are risk factors for developing HAT. The use of reduced size grafts and infrarenal iliac arterial conduits are associated with a low incidence of HAT.

The functional outcome and factors influencing improvement after pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction are still debated. This retrospective study was aimed at evaluating the factors associated with functional improvement in symptomatic unilateral hydronephrosis (HDN). Patients (n = 68) who underwent successful pyeloplasty for unilateral symptomatic UPJ obstruction without any other associated urological abnormality were included. Preoperative evaluation included a diuretic renogram (DR) to confirm obstruction and assess the split renal function (SRF). A follow-up DR was obtained 3 months and 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively. An absolute increase in the differential function of the operated kidney by over 5% was considered significant; such kidneys were classified as improved (group A) and the others as unimproved (group B). The difference between the preoperative and 3-month SRF was highly significant (P < 0.001). Significant (P < 0.01) improvement in SRF continued until 1 year after pyeloplasty. Patients who presented with a mass had significantly greater improvement (P < 0.05) than those who presented with other clinical features. In group A, a significantly higher number of patients presented with a mass. It was also evident that patients aged less than 1 year showed significantly greater (P < 0.01) improvement in SRF than older patients. Thus, in unilateral symptomatic HDN with impaired function, patients who present with a mass or those in whom pyeloplasty was performed before 1 year of age showed significantly greater improvement.

Aim:Crossed fused renal ectopia is a rare congenital malformation, which is reported to be usually asymptomatic but may have varied presentations. This survey was conducted to study the clinical profile and the challenges posed in the management of this entity.Materials and Methods:Retrospective analysis of 6 patients diagnosed to have crossed fused renal ectopia during 1997-2010. The diagnosis was confirmed during surgical exploration in one patient. In one patient it was detected on antenatal ultrasonography and in the other 4 patients it was detected during investigations for abdominal pain, abdominal mass, anorectal malformation and urinary tract infection.Results:The left moiety was crossed and fused with the right moiety in 4 cases. Ultrasonography was found to be a good screening investigation with useful diagnostic contributions from CT scans, radionuclide scintigraphy and magnetic resonance urography. Micturating cystourethrography revealed presence of VUR in 4 cases, 3 of whom have undergone ureteric reimplantation. Two patients required pyeloplasty for pelviureteric junction obstruction; in one of these patients the upper ureter was entrapped in the isthmus. In one patient, a non-functioning moiety resulted in nephrectomy. All children were asymptomatic at last follow-up with stable renal functions.Conclusions:Crossed fused renal ectopia was detected in most patients during investigation for other problems. It was found more commonly in boys. The left moiety was crossed to the right in the majority of cases. Associated urological problems were found in most cases and required the appropriate surgical management.

No abstract