Limited surgical intervention in the prune belly syndrome.

Experience with 16 males with prune belly syndrome reveals that half have done well without any surgical treatment. The authors felt that two patients had unnecessary loop cutaneous ureterostomies--and inappropriate operation for these children. Urethral obstruction was found in two boys. Four neonates died of severe renal dysplasia. Although the distal ureters are dilated, they adequately conduct urine and seldom need shortening, tailoring, and reimplantation.