Alternatives in the management of posterior urethral valves.

The child with posterior urethral valves poses a continuing treatment dilemma because congenital infravesical obstruction may result in long-standing dysfunction of all segments of the urinary tract. Relief of the obstruction may not return bladder pressure to normal or completely resolve abnormalities of ureteral drainage. Dysplastic renal parenchyma cannot recover. Four issues affect the identification of those children who will benefit from therapy beyond transurethral valve destruction: the concept of transitional nephrology, the possibility of coexisting ureterovesical obstruction, the valve bladder syndrome, and prenatal urology.