Current Surgical Management of Vesicoureteral Reflux

Abstract

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), a common congenital urinary tract anomaly, refers to retrograde flow of urine from the bladder into the upper urinary tract. The main goal in the treatment of pediatric VUR is to preserve renal function by preventing pyelonephritis. Many surgical management options are available for pediatric VUR. Open ureteral reimplantation has a high success rate but is invasive and is associated with postoperative pain and morbidity. Endoscopic therapy is minimally invasive but has the disadvantages of decreased short-term success and recurrence of reflux over the long term. Laparoscopic or robotic ureteral reimplantation has become increasingly popular owing to its effectiveness and minimal invasiveness, but long-term outcomes have yet to be documented. Urologists should make an effort to select the appropriate surgical strategy by taking into consideration the individual characteristics of the patient such as age, gender, grade of reflux at presentation, status of renal parenchyma, combined bladder and ureteral circumstances, functional status of the bladder and bowel, and preferences of the patients' family.