Perinatal Urinary Tract Dilation Clinical Pathway — ICU, Inpatient, Outpatient Specialty Care, Primary Care
Patient Cohort
This pathway should be used to guide the evaluation and management of neonates presenting with ultrasound findings of perinatal urinary tract dilation (UTD).
This pathway should be used by neonatal providers (pediatricians, neonatologists, urologists, etc.) to guide risk-based evaluation and treatment based on prenatal and postnatal ultrasound findings.
Background on UTD
It is estimated that 1% to 5% of all pregnancies will have findings of antenatal urinary tract dilation (UTD). The etiology of antenatal UTD is varied and includes: ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), lower urinary tract obstruction (posterior urethral valves, ureterocele, urethral atresia), and idiopathic transient dilation.
UTD can be followed by US in the pre- and postnatal periods. By the first prenatal ultrasound (generally around 20 weeks) the renal architecture is visible and UTD can be detected. However, the management of postnatal UTD following an antenatal diagnosis is controversial. The debate centers on timing of initial and follow-up imaging with renal and bladder ultrasound (RBUS), prescribing prophylactic antibiotics and use of voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) and contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (ceVUS) to assess for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and bladder outlet obstruction.
This pathway is meant to provide clinical decision support and recommendations are adapted from the 2014 multidisciplinary consensus of urinary tract dilation risk stratification and CHOP Urology consensus.
References
Nguyen, Herndeon, Cooper. The Society for Fetal Urology consensus statement on the evaluation and management of antenatal hydronephrosis.