Posterior urethral valves in Saudi Arabia.

Forty patients with posterior urethral valves who were managed at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital between 1977 and 1983 are reviewed. Seventy-two percent of the patients were less than one year old. Diagnosis was established by voiding cystourethrography and confirmed endoscopically. Fifteen of the 16 patients treated by primary transurethral valve ablation had a satisfactory outcome without the need for any further treatment. Cutaneous vesicostomy followed by valve ablation was performed in 15 patients. Vesicoureteric reflux occurred in 62.5% of cases and ceased spontaneously after valve ablation or temporary diversion in one third of the affected cases. Reimplantation was required unilaterally in five cases and bilaterally in four. Nephroureterectomy was performed in six patients. No hospital mortality was encountered in this series.