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Alternative names Return to top
HydronephrosisDefinition Return to top
Unilateral hydronephrosis occurs when a single kidney becomes distended or swollen due to a backup of urine. When both kidneys are involved, the condition is called bilateral hydronephrosis.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
Hydronephrosis is a condition that occurs with a disease and is not a disease itself. Treatment and prognosis for unilateral hydronephrosis depend on the associated disorder.
Conditions that are often associated with unilateral hydronephrosis include the following:
Unilateral hydronephrosis occurs in approximately 1 in 100 people.
Symptoms Return to top
Signs and tests Return to top
Unilateral hydronephrosis is usually identified with tests such as the following:Treatment Return to top
A ureteral stent (which allows the ureter to drain) or nephrostomy tube (which allows the kidney to drain through the back, bypassing the ureter) will provide temporary relief of the obstruction. However, the underlying cause must be treated to cure this condition.
If signs and symptoms of an infection are present, antibiotics and prompt relief of urinary obstruction is mandatory. 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.
If hydronephrosis is chronic, preventive antibiotics may be prescribed to decrease the risk of urinary tract infections.
Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
Prolonged hydronephrosis results in the eventual loss of kidney function.
Complications Return to top
If hydronephrosis is left untreated, the affected kidney may be permanently damaged. Renal insufficiency or renal failure is rare with unilateral hydronephrosis because the other kidney usually functions normally. However, if the patient has only one functioning kidney, renal failure will occur.
Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call your health care provider if you have prolonged or severe flank pain, or if you suspect hydronephrosis.
Prevention Return to top
Prevention of the disorders associated with unilateral hydronephrosis will prevent this condition.
Update Date: 5/3/2004 Updated by: Scott M. Gilbert, M.D., Department of Urology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |