[Posterior urethral valves in Senegalese children. Fourteen cases].

Fourteen pediatric cases of posterior urethral valves in patients aged 6 months to 14 years (with four infants and ten older children) are reported. The main symptoms were vesical, including dysuria, acute urinary retention and dribbling. One patient presented with diarrhea, vomiting and dribbling. Urethral valves were looked for as part of the evaluation for urinary lithiasis in one patient, and in another urinary lithiasis developed following the diagnosis of urethral valves. In half the cases, onset of symptoms occurred within one year of birth. Urethrocystography allowed to evidence the valves and to evaluate repercussions on the bladder including hyperplasia (7 cases) and diverticula (2 cases). The intravenous urogram disclosed bilateral ureterohydronephrosis in eight cases. Pathogens recovered from the urine included Klebsiella (3 patients), Pseudomonas (4 patients), Proteus (one patient), and E. coli (one patient). Most patients were treated by catheter lamination under antimicrobial therapy. Two patients died from renal failure. Results were considered satisfactory in nine cases with follow-ups ranging from 1 month to 4 years. Three patients were lost to follow-up. Early diagnosis is essential and management should rely mainly on endoscopic resection which reduces the length of the hospital stay and the risk of infection.