The place of diuretic enhanced Doppler sonography in distinguishing between obstructive and non-obstructive hydronephrosis in children.

OBJECTIVE

In an attempt to differentiate obstructive from non-obstructive dilation of the renal collecting system in children, a prospective clinical study was carried out.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

During duplex Doppler sonography examination in 23 children resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) and RI ratio values before and after intraverous furasemide administration were compared with the findings obtained with diuretic renogram examination (t(1/2)).

RESULTS

Evaluation of the results demonstrated that diuresis RI and PI determination may aid differentiation of severely obstructed renal units from those with slight (equivocal) or no obstruction.

CONCLUSION

Kidneys with severe UPJ obstruction tended to have more elevated RI and PI values than the non-obstructed or equivocally obstructed ones. Again, determination of RIR values for each kidney showed the same elevation in severely obstructed kidneys, while non-obstructive or indeterminately obstructed ones demonstrated statistically insignificant changes.