Physiology of lower urinary tract obstruction.

One of the major dilemmas facing pediatric urologists today is discerning obstruction in the dilated urinary tract. Apparently similar anatomic obstructions can result in very dissimilar consequences. The authors focus on the physiologic response of the bladder and upper tracts to infravesical obstruction. They caution against treatment focused merely on the obstruction, noting that the entire urinary tract must be addressed.