Review Articles

Congenital Urethral Anomalies in Boys.

Part I: Posterior Urethral Valves

Abdolmohammad Kajbafzadeh*

Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran University of

Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The aims of this review are one, to consider that congenital urethral

anomalies are not a simple disease entity in all patients. This is accomplished by

reviewing the evidence for presence of posterior urethral valve subtypes and

comorbidity of various unexplained clinical conditions in some children leading to

chronic renal failure. The review's second aim is to describe the effects of fetal lower

urinary tract obstruction on postnatal bladder function and the consequence of bladder

dysfunction on the remaining postnatal renal function. 

Materials and Methods: The literature was extensively reviewed concerning the

different types of congenital urethral outlet obstruction presentations, diagnosis,

different types of treatment modalities, morbidity, mortality, and new concepts for this

old problem. These findings were compared with conventional approaches to these

anomalies. The 739 published papers on posterior urethral valves were evaluated, and

a quarter of those are addressed. All radiologic presentations and figures in this

review were selected from among the records of Iranian patients treated by the author

during the last 25 years. 

Results: A significant overlap of presentation before antenatally diagnosed era was

observed. The natural history of these anomalies is becoming clear and the hypothesis

of posterior urethral diaphragm is popular among several investigators in comparison

to the original valves classification by Young in 1903.    

Conclusions: Further molecular investigation of the urinary tract is needed to better

understand the pathophysiology of renal and bladder function in children who are

born with antenatally diagnosed congenital urethral obstruction. These anomalies

must be treated by urologists with a vast experience with valves and other rare

congenital urethral anomalies. 

KEY WORDS: urethral abnormalities, anterior urethra, posterior urethra, valves

This article is part of a review on the anomalies of the male urethra with unknown

etiology or those believed to result from a androgen deficiency. It includes Part I:

1. posterior urethral valves and Part II: 2. anterior urethral valves, 3. lacuna magna

(sinus of Guérin), 4. syringocele, 5. megalourethra, 6. urethral duplications, and

7. prostatic urethral polyps.

59

Urology Journal

UNRC/IUA

Vol. 2, No. 2, 59-78 Spring 2005

Printed in IRAN

*Corresponding author: No. 36, 2nd floor, 7th St.,

Aaadat-abad Ave., Tehran 19987, Iran.

Tel: ++98 21 2208 9946, Fax: ++98 21 2206 9451,

E-mail: kajbafzd@sina.tums.ac.ir



Posterior Urethral Valves

Introduction

Posterior urethral valve (PUV) is one of the

most common causes of lower urinary tract

obstruction in male neonates. Although not

precisely known, its prevalence is reportedly

1/8000 to 1/25000 live births.(1,2) PUV has been

observed exclusively in boys,(3) but several reports

in adults have been published.(4-7) The definitions

of many of the disease manifestations have

changed in recent years. Advances in the prenatal

diagnosis of this disease and subsequent surgical

treatment, either intrauterine or immediately

after birth, have contributed to a better

understanding of the pathophysiology and nature

of this disease, as well as considerable

improvement in the longevity of affected children. 

The primary pathology is a mucosal membrane

in the prostatic urethra, although secondary

complications of this membrane result in injuries

in the kidneys and the urinary bladder, which

determine the fate of the children with this

primary urethral membrane.(8-11)

Background

PUV was first described in 1515 and

subsequently observed at autopsies. In 1802, the

first definition for PUV was written and

presented in an article on lithotomy.(12) The first

report in British journals is found in the Lancet,

in which Dr Budd reported a PUV in a 16-year-

old boy who had died of renal failure.(13) He

stated that severe dilation of the kidneys and the

urinary tract, as well as renal failure, had all

been due to the obstruction caused by the PUV. 

In 1913, Young reported the first clinical case

of PUV, before which all the cases had been

diagnosed postmortem.(14) In 1919, he published a

report of 36 cases from the papers of that time,

12 being his own patients and the other 24 from

various other papers.(15) It was in this paper in

which he presented a classification for the PUV.

The numbers of case reports or case series of the

patients continued to grow from the early 20th

century, so that by 1949, there were 207

published cases of PUV worldwide.(16-18)

In the last 10 years, several hypotheses have

been proposed regarding bladder function and its

relationship with renal function following

correction of the primary obstruction, as well as

several urodynamic studies and their relation

with renal function and treatment options, all of

which has led to major progress in the field. Still,

after 300 years since the initial diagnosis of this

disease, more than one third of the affected

children develop renal failure. In some cases,

cystoplasty is needed to decrease the intravesical

pressure.(19)

Anatomy and Embryology of the

Posterior Urethral Valve

The normal male urethra extends from the

bladder neck to the external urethral meatus and

is anatomically divided into 2 or 3 portions: the

prostatic and membranous portions or the

posterior urethra, and the spongy portion or the

anterior urethra. The prostatic urethra, from the

base to the tip of the prostate, is the widest and

the most distensible part. The urethral crest is a

mucosal ridge that gives a specific form to the

posterior urethra and is fully apparent in the

urethral section. On each side of this crest there

is a dip, known as the prostatic sinus. In almost

half as long as the urethral crest, and there is the

verumontanum (colliculus seminalis), a bulge on

the posterior urethral floor on which there the

foramen of the prostatic utricle lies. The urethral

crest continues naturally below the

verumontanum and binds from both sides as a

small midline bridge. This membrane, extending

laterally and downward, eventually vanishes.(3)

The shortest, narrowest, and least distensible

part of the urethra is the membranous part,

surrounded by the urinary sphincter.

Embryologically, the prostatic urethra, up to the

prostatic utricle, originates from the vesico-

ureteral cloaca and adjoins into the terminal

mesonephric duct. The rest of the prostatic

urethra includes the urogenital sinus, which is

the anterior cloacal portion and is divided by the

urogenital septum. The anterior urethra, up to

the glans, forms from urogenital fusion or the

urethral fold.

The classic form of PUV is in the prostatic

urethra, below or after the verumontanum

(Figures 1A and 1B). Pathogenetically, PUV is a

congenital phenomenon occurring sporadically,

although familial forms also have been rarely

reported.(20-22) This congenital anomaly is

believed to occur due to a mixed effect of a few

minor genes and cannot be ascribed to a single

gene mutation. Therefore, it is recommended that

60

Posterior Urethral Valves



Kajbafzadeh

all the brothers of the affected child (especially

twins) be evaluated, even when asymptomatic, to

prevent undiscovered renal damage.(22)

The precise embryologic mechanism of this

disease process is not yet known.(23) In 1932, 4

theories were described by Campbell, which

remained unchanged until today:

1. Hypertrophy of the urethral mucosal folds,

proposed by Tolmatschew(24) in 1870

2. Bazy's theory,(25) the persistence and

continuation of the urogenital membrane,

proposed in 1903

3. Abnormal development of the Wolffian or

Mullerian duct, proposed by Lowsley(26) in

1914

4. Fusion of the colliculus seminalis or the

posterior urethral roof epithelium, proposed

by Watson(27) in 1922.

None of these theories has been, however,

complete and descriptive of the entire pathology

of the urethral valve.

Classification of Posterior Urethral

Valves

Young described 3 types of PUV.(14) Types 1 and

2 are presented as a bicuspid valve of mucosal

folds that attach to the verumontanum in 2

different ways. In the first type, the valve extends

from the verumontanum distally, while in the

second type, it extends from the verumontanum

toward the bladder neck. The third type is in the

form of a mucosal web. This third type was the

first definition of PUV described in 1856 by the

French physician, Jarjavay. The common belief in

the current century for the posterior valve is also

consistent with the membrane, or the third type

definition. In a study reported in 1995 by

Kajbafzadeh and colleagues(28) from the United

Kingdom, 80% of these valves were of the

membranous type, and the other 20% also were

initially membranous but ruptured during

catheterization for cystography or in the fetal

period due to high bladder pressure, which led to

its final presentation in the type 1 form, the

bicuspid valve.

The issue proposed here is that in some

children, although catheterized, one may still

observe an unruptured membranous valve. The

theory suggested states that the foramen of the

membranous valve is not always located

peripherally; sometimes it is located centrally,

with the catheter passing occasionally through

the central foramen without being able to rupture

it. A virgin urethra phenomenon has been

proposed in this case, stating that if the urethral

valve is diagnosed in the fetal period and before

birth, and a suprapubic 6-F catheter for

cystography is placed immediately after birth

without manipulation of the urethra, 80% of the

valves appear to be of the virgin type, with a

totally different pathophysiology from type 1,

which probably ruptured in the fetal period into

a bicuspid form.(29)

The above phenomenon was tested in 1969 by

Robertson during autopsies of children who had

died of this anomaly. At first, he isolated the

entire urinary tract including the kidneys,

ureters, urinary bladder, prostate, and the entire

urethra, and noted that the nature of the PUV

was membranous or the third type. He stated

that the bicuspid valves were not anatomically

correct.(30) The same results were obtained 5

years later in a similar report.(31)

In another study based on the theory of a

virgin urethra (urethra not manipulated by a

catheter or other device) performed by the author

61

FIG. 1. A. Type I valves. Oblique view shows degrees of obstruction and dilatation of posterior urethra, B. Voiding

cystourethrogram shows filling defect of obstruction by Type III valves.



Posterior Urethral Valves

at a children's medical center on over 30 patients

with PUV before birth, the same theory was

established—that the PUVs exist in the form of a

complete membrane with a small peripheral

foramen. At the time, the valve is confirmed by

antegrade cystography, and urethroscopy is

performed by direct videoscopic view; the

posterior valve is seen as a complete diaphragm.

It is interesting that a 1-time passage of a

urethral catheter causes a rupture of the valve

into the triangular bicuspid form or the type 1 in

Young classification. Therefore, it seems that all

posterior valves are initially of the diaphragmatic

type (type 3), which convert into type 1 after the

passage of a fine catheter. The type 2 valve does

not exist, and it seems that mucosal folds are

seen in children with sphincteric dyssynergia due

to neurologic or nonneurologic injuries. The

distended posterior valve and the folded

membranes of the urethral floor that extend from

the bladder neck toward the verumontanum have

no anatomic relation with the PUV and seem to

be a mere clinical flaw (Figure 2A).

Type 4 valves are not true valves but typically

presented with a Prune-belly syndrome (Figure

2B). More than 12 radiologic patterns of PUV are

shown in Figure 3. It is worth noting that

classification of the PUV has no clinical value

with regard to treatment and prognosis, and the

clinical symptoms are not related to the valve

type.(32)

Pathophysiology of the Posterior

Urethral Valve

The importance of the posterior valve is based

on 2 things: first, the secondary effects of

urinary outflow obstruction of the fetal bladder,

and second, the secondary effects of bladder

function on the fetal kidney, as well as its effects

after birth or even after elimination of the

urethral valve.

Disorders of Renal Function in the

Posterior Urethral Valve

There are multiple mechanisms for renal

dysfunction and valve effects on the kidneys.

These include the following:

1. Primary renal dysplasia

2. Dysplasia due to urinary outflow obstruction

in the fetus and its detrimental effects on

nephrogenesis

3. Intrauterine hydronephrosis and secondary

destructive effects of obstruction on nephron

production in the fetal period, probably due

to backward pressure to the fetal kidneys

4. Postnatal urinary tract infections with or

without reflux

5. Persistent bladder dysfunction after valve

elimination

Renal Dysplasia

The simultaneous occurrence of renal dysplasia

and PUV is a known fact, although their cause

and effect relation is not yet known.(33) Renal

dysplasia can be due to either obstruction or

teratogenic effects of the valve. Renal dysplasia

with urinary reflux is a known phenomenon. In

the first evaluation of the children with PUV,

62

FIG. 2. A. Type II valve prostatic urethral dilatation and

mucosal folds are seen in children with sphincteric

dyssynergia due to myelomeningocele neuropathic bladder.

B. Type IV valve in Prune-belly syndrome.



Kajbafzadeh 63

FIG. 3. Tracing of filling defects caused by urethral valves in 12 different urethrograms showing variations in radiograph

pattern.

1

3

5

7

9

11

2

4

6

8

12

10



Posterior Urethral Valves

reflux was seen in 30% to 70% of cases.(34) It

seems that the presence of reflux at the time of

nephrogenesis might cause dysplastic changes in

the kidneys. On the other hand, a cystic

dysplastic change in a kidney affected by reflux

has been reported.(35)

According to some researchers, renal dysplasia

is an accompanying feature with PUV and not a

secondary cause.(33) In another report on PUV

and reflux, histologic findings of 32 kidneys were

studied (14 kidneys from autopsies and 18 from

nephrectomies of nonfunctioning kidneys of

patients with PUV). This study showed that 24 of

the kidneys had been dysplastic.(36) Another study

confirmed dysplasia, histologically, in 22

nephrectomized renal units.(37) The very

important point in this study was that there is a

direct relation between the location of the

ureteral opening in the bladder and the degree of

dysplasia; that is, the higher the grade of

dysplasia, the more lateral was the ectopy of the

ureteral opening. This study confirms that the

cause of dysplasia is a developmental

phenomenon rather than a direct effect of reflux

or urinary outflow tract obstruction.

Urinary Concentration Disorder in

Posterior Urethral Valves

Loss of urinary concentrating power leads to

production of a large volume of dilute urine, as

observed in children with urinary valves.(38) The

prevalence and severity of antidiuretic hormone-

resistant nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is not

known. In an assessment of 28 patients in 1970,

Waldbaum and Marshall observed 2 patients with

polydipsia and polyuria, suggestive of

nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.(39) There are

various other records of the urethral valve and

nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in the

literature.(40,41) Some researchers have noted that

in most children developing renal failure because

of PUV, hemodialysis is needed much later, if this

failure is accompanied with polyuria.(42)

On the other hand, most children with PUV

develop ureteral dilatation following valve

resection, due to a 2- to 4-fold increase in urine

volume.(43) This group of patients doesn't respond

to a 14-hour water restriction. Treatment of these

children is very difficult, and they quickly present

symptoms of dehydration and acidosis with a

minor stress or a gastroenteritislike disease.(44)

Classification of the Upper Urinary

Tract Anatomy in Urethral Valve

Hendren classifies the pathology of kidneys and

ureters in patients with PUV into 4 groups as

follows:

Group 1: no secondary changes are seen in

patients with urethral valves in the ureters and

kidneys, including paraurethral diverticula,

reflux, or upper urinary tract dilatation

Group 2: mild dilatation of the upper urinary

tract

Group 3: severe reflux and renal destruction is

seen

Group 4; severe destruction of the kidneys,

together with hydroureteronephrosis,

megaureter, and often azotemia(45)

This classification was used in a group of

children with urethral valves (124 cases), with

43% going into group 1, 34% into group 2, 14.5%

into group 3, and 8.5% into group 4.(46)

Initial Diagnosis and Clinical

Manifestations

Two types of symptomatic presentation and

clinical manifestations are seen in these children.

The first group shows obstructive symptoms

including straining during urination, intermittent

voiding with reduced urinary flow rate, and a

palpable midline bladder. The second group

presents with infectious signs including

septicemia, failure to thrive, and urinary tract

infections, which are the most prominent features

of this disease. In the neonatal and infantile

periods, the primary obstructive symptoms are

more prevalent, while at older ages, the infectious

signs are dominant.(47)

In a study of valve diagnosis, 26% appeared in

the first month of life, 23% in the first year, and

51% between the ages of 1 and 15 years.(48) In

another report, one third occurred in the first

month, one third in the first year, and the rest

after 1 year of age. Two decades ago, when

diagnostic and treatment advances were

performed on fetuses, fetal uropathies were

diagnosed and patients affected by PUV could be

diagnosed (Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4C).(49)

Initial reports on fetal-stage diagnosis of PUV

show a better prognosis for those patients

diagnosed prenatally as compared with those

occurring after birth.(50) Diagnostic evidence of

the urethral valve appears in children presenting

with severe bilateral hydronephrosis and

64



Kajbafzadeh

increased serum creatinine, with or without

respiratory problems. Respiratory symptoms in a

newborn with PUV might be related to

oligohydramnios, which is accompanied by severe

pulmonary hypoplasia.(51) These respiratory

disorders are more prevalent in children with

urine ascites due to spontaneous renal rupture in

the fetal period. Diagnosis at older ages seems to

come with a better prognosis, as those with renal

failure present their symptoms quite early. 

Differential Diagnosis of the Posterior

Urethral Valve

The differential diagnoses of the posterior

urethral valve include the following:

1.  Perirenal urinary extravasation(52)

2.  presacrococcygeal teratoma(53)

3.  Urethral duplication(54)

4.  Megalourethra(55)

5.  Anterior urethral valve or diverticulum(56)

6.  Syringocele and Mormon's ring(57)

7.  Prune belly syndrome(58)

8.  Urethral hypoplasia  

9.  Urinary retention 

10. Ectopic ureterocele

11. Urethral strictures

12. Anterior or posterior myelomeningocele

Whenever bilateral hydronephrosis with a thick-

walled, persistently full bladder is observed in the

fetal period, urethral valve should be the first

diagnosis. However, the Prune-belly syndrome

and neuropathic bladder should also be

considered.(58)

Treatment

It is best to drain bladder urine immediately

after diagnosis. Placement of a suprapubic 6-F

urinary catheter is feasible in most centers after

local anesthesia with topical anesthetic creams,

and without general anesthesia. When the

bladder is empty, normal saline can be infused

65

FIG. 4. A. Fetal hydroureteronephrosis and distended

bladder, B. Typical keyhole sign (distended bladder and

posterior urethra), C. Spontaneous ruptures of kidney in a

fetus with PUV and urinoma around the fetal kidney with

severe renal parenchyma echogenicity, D. Postnatal voiding

cystourethrogram confirmed the PUV.



Posterior Urethral Valves

into the bladder through the meatus, without

urinary catheterization. The advantages of

suprapubic catheter placement are that first, it

does not lead to urethral infection with its

consequent strictures and complications, second,

the urethra remains virgin, third, cystography

can be performed suprapubically as the catheter

can be fixed with a suture, with little chance of

its spontaneous displacement, and fourth, a

suprapubic catheter can be maintained for a

longer period of time.

An important advantage of using a suprapubic

catheter is during physiologic urodynamic studies

before and after valve destruction, in which

vesical pressure measurements can be made in

various positions without the use of a urethral

catheter. A novel option is fetal surgical

intervention for posterior valve and placement of

a shunt in the fetal bladder and the amniotic

fluid, which can be performed in specific cases by

a special team in fetal surgery. 

Immediately after placement of the suprapubic

catheter after birth, a urine sample can be taken

for urinalysis, urine culture, and other

parameters. An appropriate antibiotic should be

administered thereafter, and in case of the

absence of infection, prophylactic antibiotics

should be given, especially if a urinary reflux is

also present. Hypercalcemia and acidosis are

severe and prevalent problems in children with

PUV. 

Before the invention of fine endoscopic

instruments for neonates, various options were

suggested for urethral valve removal including

perineal urethrotomy,(59) suprapubic

cystostomy,(60) and valve destruction using

Fogarty balloon,(61) all of which were accompanied

by severe complications including urethral

rupture, urinary incontinence, and urethral

strictures.(9)

A major revolution occurred with the

production of neonatal cystoscopes, numbered 7.5

to 8, in which the valve can be operated primarily

at every age and at any weight. A hook was made

by Whitaker, which could be connected directly to

an electrocautery device, that could approach and

reach the valve directly and destroy it.(62)

Cystography must be performed after valve

destruction to ensure complete valve removal. In

some children, the creatinine level does not

change much even after 2 weeks of bladder

drainage.(63)

If there is no change in renal and ureteral

dilation by precise sonographic measurement of

the diameters, supravesical urinary diversion

must be considered. If the pelvic and ureteral

diameters are reduced, a vesicostomy may be

performed after 2 weeks. If valve destruction is

not feasible, as in cases of urethral hypoplasia,

where a cystoscope cannot be passed, a

vesicostomy may be performed. However, if

severe pelvic and ureteral dilation still persists,

ureterostomy or pyelostomy should be

considered.(63)

Vesicostomy can be closed 1 or 2 years later,

and a suprapubic vesical catheter can be fixed.

With this, bladder drainage and the status of the

urethra may be assessed. If the urethra is back to

its normal state and bladder drainage is

complete, the catheter may be removed. In a

comparison between vesicostomy and primary

urinary diversion in the treatment of PUV in

neonates and in children who have been initially

operated on for valve resection, it has been shown

that bladder dysfunction is greater in the first

group than those whose valves had been initially

operated on. The status of the urethra can be

described as either favorable or unfavorable.(34)

The urethra is said to be in a favorable state

when the creatinine level decreases quickly, and

renal function is good on isotope scan. The

presence of a pop-off mechanism reflects a

positive prognosis. Conversely, in case of

azotemia and renal malfunction on sonography,

the child's prognosis must be viewed

unfavorably.(53) In all, if the renal failure

continues despite all the measures, renal

transplantation should be considered, although

initially, chances of success in these patients was

believed to be less.(64,65) However, if the bladder

function and urodynamic and other parameters

are fully assessed and the bladder problems

treated, there is no difference in transplant

outcome in these patients.

Late Complications of the Urethral

Valve

Every child with a resected PUV must undergo

long-term surveillance and follow-up until puberty

and afterward. Parameters like urethral patency,

renal function, bladder function, reflux, and

urinary tract infections must be considered. One

month after valve destruction surgery, serum

creatinine level measurement together with

cystography and renal ultrasonography and

isotope (DMSA) scan must be repeated. If there

66



Kajbafzadeh

is still an obstruction in the urinary outflow

tract, a proper decision must be made and a

repeat evaluation be done after 3 months. If the

obstruction persists, cystoscopy should be

performed. Measurement of the glomerular

filtration rate (GFR) with the isotope method

(EDTA chromium) gives an accurate portrayal of

renal function.(66) Table 1 gives the means of

long-term follow-up for children with PUV.

The correct treatment for severe cases of valve,

reflux and urinary tract dilation is still debatable.

The time for ureteral reimplantation in cases of

severe reflux or megaureter is not known. Some

believe that the reflux and dilation of the ureter

and kidney will resolve spontaneously if the valve

is completely removed and if bladder function is

normal according to urodynamic studies.(36)

Approach to Reflux in Children with

Posterior Urethral Valves

It is not yet certain whether reflux is an

anatomically accompanying feature of the

urethral valve or is secondary to it. The

prevalence of urinary reflux from the bladder to

the kidneys is reportedly to be 26% up to 72%. In

some initial reports, reflux prevalence was

reported as 44%, with 16% being bilateral and

28% being unilateral.(67,68) There is a direct

relation between the reflux and the age of disease

incidence. The key question is why is the

presence of reflux such a determining factor in

children with urethral valves. In answer to this,

the following are suggested(34): first, the presence

of infection and reflux could lead to scarring and

a greater decrease in renal function; second,

reflux might have unfavorable effects on bladder

function; and third, during voiding, most of the

urine enters the kidneys, and the child is said to

void in his place and into his kidneys. The

dilatation of the posterior urethra in children

with PUV and severe reflux is much more evident

than it is in a child without reflux (Figures 5A

and 5B). After voiding, a high volume of urine

flows from the kidneys into the bladder, refilling

it immediately. Fourth, it aggravates the function

of a dilated ureter; and fifth, if the voiding

pressure is high, renal destruction might also be

greater.

Reflux is spontaneously resolved in 35% to 50%

of cases.(66,68)

Some believe that patients with reflux need not

to be operated on, as it will automatically resolve

as soon as the bladder function returns to

normal.(36) Others believe that the bladder needs

to be operated on if the reflux is accompanied by

recurrent urinary tract infections.(45) This can

occur when the urodynamic performance of the

bladder is normal.(1) It must be noted, however,

that ureteral reimplantation in a thick bladder is

very difficult, several complications are possible,

and the chance of failure is very high.(69)

In another study on 82 boys with urethral

valves who had long-term follow-up, unilateral

reflux by ipsilateral dysplasia continued in 21%,

after successful valve surgery. Ten of the cases

had a dysplastic kidney upon nephrectomy.(70) It

must be noted here that a dysplastic kidney with

severe reflux on the same side is a safety valve

mechanism for the bladder, so that sometimes,

after nephroureterectomy of the dysplastic

kidney, bladder pressure increases and the

contralateral kidney develops new reflux, a

phenomenon referred to as the valve's ureteric

reflux and dysplasia (VURD) syndrome.

Prognosis is excellent in children with this

syndrome. On the other hand, one must know

that if the child is in need of a cystoplasty in the

future, the method of choice would be

ureterocystoplasty with the use of the dilated

67

TABLE 1. Long-term follow-up for children with posterior valves 

Types of evaluation Intervals 

Blood pressure measurement Routinely in every visit 

Growth and weight Routinely in every visit 

Creatinine and electrolyte measurements Initially every 3 months then yearly 

Urinary tracts ultrasonography One month, 3 months, 1 year postoperatively, and then yearly 

DTPA isotope scan At the ages of 3 months and 1 year then yearly 

Urodynamics-uroflowmetry Yearly, since urinary continence 

Indirect cystography At the time of DTPA isotope scan 

DMSA isotope scan Yearly, if UTI and reflux are present 

Voiding cystourethrography 1 month after valve resection and yearly for 3 to 4 years 

 



Posterior Urethral Valves

ureter. In another report of 6 cases of

nephroureterectomy, it was observed that a

dysplastic kidney can sometimes lead to renal

failure.(71) Another long-term study has shown

that the presence of reflux in the dysplastic

kidney has protective effects on the other kidney,

and it is generally advised that

nephroureterectomy of the dysplastic kidney be

carried out with caution.(72)

Urethral Stricture Following Urethral

Valves Resection

All methods of valve surgery carry the risk of a

urethral stricture, with a reported prevalence of

8% to 28%.(73,74) The use of a large, unsuitable

cystoscope, inappropriate urinary catheter, and

especially valve resection in a dry urethra (when

there is a vesicostomy) all increase the chance of

a stricture.(73) The prevalence of urethral

stricture is currently very low. 

Undescended Testis and Sexual

Function in Boys with Urethral Valves

The prevalence of undescended testis is 12% in

these patients. Boys with a PUV might have

retrograde ejaculation after puberty, due either to

the anatomy of the urethra and the bladder neck,

or to valve surgery complications.(48) Fertility is

possible for children with a history of valve

surgery. However, slow ejaculation is seen in 38%

of these children.(10) At times an absence of

ejaculation due to an obstruction of the

ejaculative tracts has been reported. Paramo has

also reported a case of sterility due to retained

ejaculation in the posterior urethra.(75)

Prognosis of Children with Posterior

Urethral Valves

The prognosis of these children is quite poor. In

long-term follow-up, at least one third of such

children have a poor outcome with respect to

renal function.(76) In one study, 26% of patients

older than 18 years with a history of urethral

valve had a renal failure.(8) In another study, 50%

of children whose valve had been diagnosed

before the age of 1 year showed some degree of

renal failure.(77) If the patient has a protecting

mechanism at birth, the prevalence of renal

failure reaches 5%. These factors are valve

bladder syndrome, large bladder diverticulum,

and fetal urine ascites due to bladder or kidney

rupture.

Mortality of the Patients Affected by

Posterior Urethral Valve

Mortality of these children was reported to be

40% to 50% in the previous two or three

decades,(57,78) having reduced to zero in the

previous decade.(53) This improvement is mainly

due to a higher awareness of this disease among

the physicians, prompt treatment of the urinary

tract infections, improvement in surgical

instruments and medical treatments, and dialysis

and renal transplantation in small children.

68

FIG. 5. A. Severe posterior urethral dilatation in a child with PUV and no VUR, B. high-grade VUR and less dilatation of

posterior urethra in spite of typical PUV.



Kajbafzadeh

Bladder Function in Children with

Posterior Valves

The lower urinary tract consists of the bladder

and urethra, which compose a single unit. Each

part has two functions, reserving urine, and

disposing thereof,(79) which is under neural tract

support, as well as smooth and striated muscle.

The nerves effective in voiding include somatic

and autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic)

nerves. There is no evidence of disordered

innervation in urethral valve cases. In these

children, the determining point in bladder

function is the amount of collagen types I, III,

and IV, whose ratio significantly changes because

of an outflow tract obstruction of the compliant

fetal bladder. This plays a major role in bladder

function even after valve removal.

Normally, the bladder fills without any increase

in its internal pressure. This occurs because of

the bladder's relaxing ability, under the effect of

central and local nerves. Paucid vesicoelastic

structures, also, enable it to be filled at low

pressures. This relation between the change of

intravesical pressure (dP) and the change of

volume (dV) is referred to as the compliance

(C = dP/dV). A change of bladder morphology

due to collagen ratio or muscular hypertrophy

leads to a reduced compliance.

During natural bladder filling, the pressure

increases very slightly or does not increase at all,

and this is known as normal compliance.(79) In

adults, the raise in bladder pressure after filling

with 300 mL of water must be less than 10 cm

H2O and at final volume less than 15 cm H2O.(80)

The high compliance of the bladder allows it to

receive a large volume of urine at a low pressure.

Low compliance, on the contrary, means that the

bladder receives a low volume of urine at a very

high pressure, which predisposes the urinary

tract to infections, renal dilation and dysfunction,

and renal failure in due course.(38)

These definitions are given according to the

international association for disease control. For

example, the term "unstable bladder" is used

when the bladder contracts automatically during

filling and the patient tries to avoid urination.(79)

The stimulating factors for this state could be

rapid filling, change of position, and coughing.

Such contractions are considered involuntary

when detrusor contraction pressures exceed 15

cm H2O.(81)

In one study, the results of which were

published recently, it was shown that bladder

dysfunction in children with PUV is a

determining prognostic factor in the probability

of developing renal failure in this group of

patients. A bladder with poor compliance and

myogenic failure has a poorer prognosis, while

children with bladder instability will have the

lowest prevalence of renal failure following valve

removal (Figures 6A and 6B). Some investigators

agree that long-term bladder free drainage

(vesicostomy) could cause long-term bladder

dysfunction.(79)

Bladder Capacity in Children

Normal bladder capacity in children has been

calculated by many, eventually giving the

following formula for the calculation of bladder

capacity with age(82-84):

Bladder capacity (mL) = (age in years + 2) × 30

Normal bladder capacity of the neonate is given

by the following formula:

Newborn's bladder capacity (mL) = weight in

kilograms × 7

Natural History Voiding in Children

The voiding phenomenon is a response to

increased urine volume in the bladder, in which

urethral relaxation and detrusor contraction

69

FIG. 6. A. Initial uroflowmetry shows obstructive pattern

in a 6-year-old boy with Type III valves. B. Uroflowmetry

following valves ablation in the same child with a Type III

PUV.



Posterior Urethral Valves

occur simultaneously with pelvic floor muscle

relaxation and funneling of the bladder neck.

This neuromuscular phenomenon is very

complex. The relation between bladder pressure

and urine flow rate has been studied extensively.

One researcher, in 1970, calculated the maximal

voiding pressure of the bladder in children as

equal to 73.6 cm H2O.(85) Others, however, have

calculated this pressure in the adult population as

40 cm H2O  to 60 cm H2O.(86)

Urodynamics in Children Affected by

Urethral Valves

Urodynamics, one of the most important tests,

is the study of lower urinary tract function.

Urodynamic studies include the following

assessments(87-92):

1. Urinary history

2. Frequency volume chart

3. Uroflowmetry

4. Urodynamics in the forms of:

Videourodynamics

Physiologic urodynamics

Isotope urodynamics

5. Uroflowmetry and pelvic floor EMG

History is the most important part of the

urodynamic assessment. During history taking,

one must consider intermittent voiding, narrow-

stream voiding with high or low pressure, such

that the patient urinates on the scrotum.

Moreover, urination with force, severe crying,

and squatting during voiding are among the most

important issues and initial points in urodynamic

studies.

To make a frequency volume chart, the child's

parents are asked to calculate the volume of

voided urine in every session and record the time

and volume in a table. If the child is using

diapers, estimated urine volume can be obtained

by weighing the diaper before and after each

episode of urination. Using this method, the

number of voids in 24 hours, average volume of

urination, and total daily urine volume are

obtained. 

Physical Examination

Only rarely is an abnormal point found in the

physical examination of children with urethral

valves. However, the observation of abnormal

hair growth on the skin over the sacral bone,

perineal sensory disorders, or abnormal tendon

reflexes can all be signs of a neurogenic lesion of

the bladder rather than the urethral valve.

Urinary flowmetry in children who have reached

the age of urinary continence is a very simple

and noninvasive test, in which the volume, urine

curve form, and maximal voiding in one second

must be noted (Figures 7A and 7B). (93)

Ultrasonography of the Urinary Tract

Ultrasonography of the upper and lower

urinary tracts, before and after voiding, is of

paramount importance in the evaluation of these

children. Calculation of residual urine volume,

70

FIG. 7. A. Urodynamic study before valve ablation (maximum voiding pressure = 320 cm H2O) and B. after valve ablation

in the same child with Type III valves (maximum voiding pressure = 112 cm H2O).



Kajbafzadeh

assessment of renal pelvic and ureteral diameters

before and after bladder drainage with a thick

bladder wall, voiding time, and posterior urethral

diameter are among the most important points to

be considered in ultrasonography.

Ultrasonography of the urinary tract is the first

assessment in the newborn with a history of

bilateral hydronephrosis and a distended bladder

during the fetal period. Isotope study of the

urinary tract is a further specific study in

patients with urethral strictures. Intravenous

urography has no role in the evaluation of

PUV.(94)

Cystometry

Determining the relation between the bladder

volume and pressure is a valuable test essential

in every child affected by a valve. Some young

physicians think that cystometry is the same as

urodynamics, being the first step in the study of

the urinary tract. However, with respect to all

initial issues, cystometry is the last part of the

urodynamic studies. For cystometry, a catheter

must be placed in the bladder to measure its

pressure, another catheter must be placed in the

rectum to measure the perivesical pressure,

which is transferred from the abdomen to the

bladder muscles. The device obtains the detrusor

pressure by a simple subtraction of these two

pressures.(88) It must be kept in mind that some

of the urodynamic findings change with the

amount and rate of bladder filling and the

temperature of the fluid entering the

bladder.(89,90)

Video-urodynamics was first suggested by Bates

in 1970, giving more information including

visualization of the bladder's function at the same

time as the pressure measurements.(91,92) In this

method, the status of the diverticulum, bladder

neck, urethra, reflux, and involuntary

contractions during bladder filling can be

compared by measuring intravesicular pressure

changes.

Obstructive Bladder Changes Due to

Urethral Valve

The bladder muscles show a wide range of

different responses to degrees of outflow

obstruction. These changes are important, not

only morphologically, but also with respect to

bladder function.(95) These responses have been

observed in experimental studies on the rabbit

bladder, too, and the above changes studied both

for the period of obstruction and the period after

its relief.(96)

The first response to obstruction is bladder

distension, followed by a thickening in the

bladder wall. This thickening is at first due to a

submucosal swelling, later replaced by an

increase in collagen and the muscular mass

eventually substituted by connective collagen

tissue. This point is more prominent in the fetal

bladder. The degree of hypertrophy depends on

the severity of obstruction. In other words,

muscular hypertrophy leads to a moderate

obstruction, and hyperplasia is seen when the

obstruction is severe. In the bladder of the

growing rabbit, if an outflow tract obstruction is

made, at first the bladder smooth muscles are

doubled, enlarging to as much as 6 times their

normal size within 8 weeks. A 10-time

hypertrophic muscular increase is seen in the

obstruction of the mature rat. These lesions show

that the amount of bladder collagen increases to

4 times its initial amount.(97, 98)

Apparently, the bladder's elasticity increases

with increasing collagen.(99) These morphologic

changes lead to a hardening of the bladder

wall.(38) Morphologic studies in the bladders of

the patients with outflow tract obstruction

confirm similar changes.(100) In cases in whom an

obstruction in the urethra occurs, the force of

voiding increases and the urine flow rate

decreases at the same time. The signs of

instability are observed in 64% of cases and the

bladder end-filling pressure reaches 55 cm

H2O.(101) Studies of the bladder nerves show that

in obstruction the amount of autonomic nerves in

the detrusor muscle is reduced.(102) In another

study, the same changes are described in the

bladder facing an outflow tract obstruction.(103)

Such changes are also seen in men affected by

prostate enlargement, in 45% of whom

involuntary contractions are seen. After

obstruction relief, these involuntary contractions

are relieved in 62% of the patients only.(104) In

urinary postprostatectomy urinary incontinence,

involuntary contractions (instability) are seen in

66% of the patients.(105) In a similar study, such

disorders are reported in 60% after

prostatectomy.(106) The more severe the

obstruction, the prevalent are the involuntary

bladder contractions.(107)

Unfortunately, studies in animal models of

fetuses are very difficult because severe

71



Posterior Urethral Valves

obstruction of the fetal urethra is accompanied by

oligohydramnios, which leads to fetal pulmonary

hypoplasia and death, making the postnatal study

impossible.(108) Another problem in animal

models is fetal bladder decompression due to

urethral obstruction because of automatic

opening of the urachus.(51) Until now, most of the

studies centered on the assessment of effects of

urethral obstruction on the kidneys (108,109), but

recently the researcher's attention has moved

toward the effects of urethral obstruction on the

bladder, in experimental animal fetuses. 

In one study, urethral obstruction in the sheep

fetus at mid-pregnancy led to a 4-fold increase in

bladder weight, together with hypertrophy and

hyperplasia of the bladder muscles, with a

reduced compliance in cystometric

evaluations.(110)

In these animal models, the maximum vesical

pressure, as well as the amount of residual urine,

increases.(111) These changes are due to increased

gestational proteins of the cellular matrix and

collagen production in response to

obstruction.(112)

The VURD Syndrome

Urethral valve in children causes evidences of

urethral outflow tract obstruction, similar to the

urinary tract obstruction in benign prostatic

hyperplasia in adults.(113) However, there are

considerable differences between these two age

groups (children and adults) with respect to the

effects of obstruction on the developing kidney

and the forming bladder in the fetus and the

newborn.(114)

It was reported about 70 years ago that 70% of

children with a urethral valve have urinary

incontinence, which was thought to be caused by

bladder overflow of urine. Forty years later,

Williams reported that two thirds of these

patients have some degree of urinary

incontinence.(68) At the same time, another

theory was proposed for these children's wetting,

suggesting bladder dysfunction as being

responsible for the urinary incontinence in

children with a urethral valve.(115)

In 1977, the first urodynamic studies showed

that the external sphincter is normal, rejecting

the theory that urinary incontinence after valve

surgery is due to traumatizing of the external

sphincter.(116) At the beginning of this study, 5

types of bladder function in children affected by

a valve were introduced(116-119): normal bladder,

myogenic failure, increased voiding pressure,

uninhibited contraction, and low-volume high-

pressure bladder.

An interesting study was done on persistence of

ureteral dilation after valve resection.(117) In this

study, upper tract urodynamics were performed

and 3 urodynamic classes were found for the

renal pelvis and the dilated ureters. For this, a

fine catheter was introduced percutaneously into

the renal pelvis and the pelvic and ureteral

pressures were studied in 3 positions with an

empty and a full bladder.

This study was performed in children whose

ureteral dilation had not been relieved after relief

of the urethral obstruction. These dilated ureters

are classified, urodynamically, into 3 obstructive

types: type 1, obstructive; type 2, nonobstructive

with a full bladder; and type 3, nonobstructive

with an empty bladder. The study showed that

most nonobstructive dilated ureters exist at the

time of bladder emptying and become obstructed

upon bladder filling. This phenomenon, in which

and increased bladder wall resistance and

pressure leads to a resistance to urine flow from

the ureter to the bladder was introduced as the

valve bladder.(118)

The important point is that placement of a

Foley catheter can itself be considered as a

foreign body and a means of pressure on the

trigon, so that the ureteral distension might not

be relieved after drainage through a Foley

catheter. Now, if a Nelaton catheter replaces this

catheter, the effect on ureteral drainage will

improve.(119)

In general, the high intravesical resting

pressure is one of the important reasons for

persistence of ureteral and pelvic dilation

following valve surgery.(120) On the other hand, if

the urinary incontinence persists after the age of

5 years, this is considered a poor prognosis for

renal function. The urodynamic evaluation of

children affected by urethral valve shows 3 types

of urinary disorders after valve surgery(120):

myogenic failure, bladder hyperreflexia, and

hypertonic bladder. These findings prove that

sphincter disorders are rare, and that the

children with urinary incontinence face severe

renal and ureteral disorders.(9) There is a direct

relation between disordered voiding, reduced

compliance, and the risk of renal failure.(122)

Increased voided urine volume and the loss of

renal urine concentrating capacity aggravate

signs of lower urinary tract disorders.(81)

72



Kajbafzadeh

Renal dysfunction in the long run is well known

in myelomeningocele patients,(123,124) which is due

to a low-volume high-pressure bladder that causes

a disordered urine emptying from the ureter into

the bladder, especially if this is concomitant with

detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. Also in urethral

valve, it seems that the higher the bladder

pressure, the lower the GFR.(125)

This critical pressure is, by definition, 40 cm

H2O, which can eventually destroy the

kidneys.(126) In subsequent studies, the bladder's

resting pressure (20 cm H2O to 25 cm H2O) is

also claimed to be hazardous for the

kidneys.(113,127,128) Almost 4% to 5% of children

with a urethral valve have persistent bladder

dysfunction resistant to therapy, requiring

augmentation cystoplasty. 

It is interesting that in 1 of our studies 40% to

50% of these patients have normal voiding after

cystoplasty, without a need for urinary

catheterization.(129) In the urodynamic

assessment of neonates who are diagnosed

prenatally, a fine, 2-mm, suprapubic catheter is

introduced into the bladder immediately after

birth, connected to the urodynamics device, and

the bladder function monitored for 12 hours. 

In this study, the voiding pressure had risen to

up to 350 cm H2O in some children.

Interestingly, this pressure did not changed much

after valve resection, although radiologically and

clinically, the urine flow had been normal and the

urethra had no obstruction. Still more interesting

is that if the urethra is not catheterized at birth,

cystography can be performed through a

suprapubic catheter leaving the urethra intact.

Almost 80% of the urethral valves in this group

appear to be of the third type, which is in

contrast with existing reports. 

There is as yet no report of urethroscopy

without catheterization. It has been shown in

these patients that if the bladder is catheterized

with a 6-F catheter, the valve changes from type

3 into type 1, explaining the higher prevalence of

the type 1 valve.(128) In the urodynamic study

before and after valve resection at birth, the

intravesical voiding pressure does not change,

whereas the residual urine disappears.

All these patients have hypocompliant bladders,

with a formed entity after the age of 1 year,

which is classified as described earlier.(129,130)

73

FIG. 8. Diagnosis and treatment protocol of posterior urethral valve.

Antenatally Diagnosed PUV 

Immediate Postpartum Ultrasound 

Normal Abnormal 

Prophylactics for 4 weeks 

VCUG 

Normal VUR 

Stop follow-up Treat as VUR protocol 

Insert Cystofix  

+ Antegrade VCUG 

PUV 

Biochemistry & 

Baseline GFR    

Physiologic Fill 

Urodynamic 

Unstable Child 

Bladder Free Drainage 

Stable Child 

PUV Resection 



Posterior Urethral Valves

There are several reports regarding prenatal

diagnosis of PUV in the previous 2 decades.

Whenever bilateral hydroureteronephrosis with a

large, full bladder is shown on the renal

ultrasonography of a fetus, a PUV must be

considered. If the diagnosis is made before 24

weeks of gestation, the prognosis is poor, and if

oligohydramnios is also present, the status of the

fetus is even worse and needs to receive a

treatment from an expert team.

The basic point, anyway, is that there is no

need to terminate pregnancy or have a premature

delivery as the neonate may actually die at birth

of lung underdevelopment at any gestational age.

Bilateral pneumothorax might occur in these

children upon the first inspiration after birth,

which requires specific treatments, proper action,

and care if the child's life is to be saved.(28,93,94,128-

133)

The protocol presented in Figures 8 and 9 is

used in the division of Pediatric Urology

Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.(131)

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74

FIG. 9. Treatment protocol in cases in which resection is not possible.

PUV Resection 

Technically Possible Impossible 

 Continue Px. & Follow –up U/S in 3 Months Vesicostomy 

Delayed PUV Resection 

& Vesicostomy closure 

Follow-up Ultrasound 

Abnormal Normal 

VCUG 

VUR No VUR 

Follow-up U/S every 6 m 

Continue Px. 

& 

Urodynamic 
Follow-up till Puberty 

Abnormal Normal 

Stop Px. Re-evaluation 

Re-scope & Medical 

Therapy 



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