Adult Treatment for Urinary Reflux

Urinary reflux, or vesicoureteral reflux, is a condition in which urine flows backward to the ureters, and in some cases up into the kidneys. Urine normally is released from the kidneys to travel through the ureters and into the bladder. The backflow is usually caused by a defect in the flap that is supposed to prevent urine from traveling back to the ureters. If left untreated, urinary tract infections, high blood pressure and kidney damage are all a possibility.

Diagnosis

• Urinary reflux is more commonly found in infants and children, but it is possible for adults to have it as well. In many cases, it is only after several urinary tract infections that vesicoureteral reflux is diagnosed, and at that point the child has grown to be a teenager or even an adult..

  The severity of the urinary reflux must be accurately determined in order to proceed with treatment. Mild cases of reflux are usually left to resolve on their own. But for more moderate and severe cases of urinary reflux, there are two options: medication and surgery.

Treatment with Medication

• Urinary tract infections are often prevalent in individuals with urinary reflux, so the first course of action is to treat the infections. Treating UTIs right away prevents them from moving to the kidneys, where more serious conditions could result. Antibiotics such as Bactrim, Septra, Primsol, Macrobid, Furadantin and Macrodantin will be used to treat urinary tract infections, and they may be given at half doses to help prevent recurrent infections.

Treatment with Surgery

• If medication does not seem to help, or if the urinary reflux is thought to be a moderate or severe case, surgery will be recommended. To resolve urinary reflux, repairing the valve between the bladder and affected ureter(s) will be necessary, and can be approached with endoscopic surgery or open surgery.

  Endoscopic surgery involves inserting a lighted tube through the urethra to see inside the bladder. A bulking agent will then be injected around the opening of the ureter(s) to help strengthen the valve's ability to function properly. This method of treating urinary reflex is minimally invasive and presents fewer risks to the patient. It can be performed under general anesthesia or in an outpatient setting.

  Open surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and requires an incision to be made in the lower abdomen. Through this incision the surgeon will repair the defective valve. Because this type of surgery is an open one and requires the use of anesthesia, there is an increased risk for bleeding, blot clots and infection.

Summary

• Speak to your physician if you suspect that you have urinary reflux. He will compile a list of your symptoms, and possibly administer several tests, including bladder and kidney ultrasounds, special x-rays and nuclear scans, in order to determine the severity of the reflux. With those results, you and your physician will be able to determine an appropriate method of treatment.