Antireflux surgery does not change ongoing renal functional deterioration.

Aim: Treatment modalities of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) consist of antimicrobial prophylaxis and antireflux surgery. In this study, we aimed to determine if antireflux surgery changes the course of renal functional deterioration in children with VUR and urinary tract infections (UTI).

Methods: Medical files of patients with VUR diagnosed during evaluation for UTI were evaluated retrospectively for gender, age, follow-up period, and renal ultrasonography (US) and serial 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) scintigraphy findings. Estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary protein levels were determined at the initial and last visits, and before the operation in children who had antireflux surgery. The patients were divided into two groups as solely medically treated (Group 1) and both medically and surgically treated (Group 2). Group 2 was further divided as those with stable renal function (Group 2a) and with progressive renal injury (Group 2b).

Results: There were 140 patients (77 female; mean age 51.6 ± 51.9 months). Group 1 and Group 2 included 82 and 58 patients, respectively. In Group 2, the number of patients with the abnormal US, DMSA scintigraphy, and renal function was higher than in Group 1. Recurrent UTI rate was similar, but progressive scarring was more prominent in the antireflux surgery group. In Group 2, 31 patients had a stable renal function (Group 2a) while 27 had progressive deterioration of renal functions (Group 2b). These subgroups were not different with respect to the rate of high-grade VUR, the presence of a renal scar in DMSA, and UTI recurrence. However, the bilateral renal scar was more common in Group 2b.

Conclusion: Antireflux surgery does not change the course of ongoing renal injury and renal functional deterioration.