1. Prenatal Surgery
A ureterocele, a birth defect, can sometimes be detected before your child is born. In rare cases, when the urine blockage resulting from the swelling in your baby's ureter threatens your unborn child's life, your doctor may recommend the insertion of a prenatal shunt. This small tube is inserted into your baby's bladder and allows urine to be released into the amniotic sac. The shunt is placed via a needle in the mother's abdomen, in much the same way that amniocentesis is performed, and then ultrasound guides its placement. As this fetal surgery is risky, it is performed only in critical circumstances, such as when the amniotic fluid is missing or if your baby's lungs are not developing. It may also be performed if your baby has severely damaged kidneys.
2. Short-Term Treatment
If your baby is born with a ureterocele, he immediately will receive antibiotics to prevent further infection. Ampicillin and bactrim are among the antibiotics commonly used. Intravenous fluids may also be administered if your child is ill from the effects of a urinary tract infection. A stent, or tiny drain, may be placed in your baby's ureter or renal area to provide relief until your baby is ready to undergo surgery.
3. Surgical Repair of the Ureterocele
Although small ureteroceles that don't upset kidney function are sometimes left alone, larger ureteroceles require surgical removal. Surgery will involve making an incision in the ureterocele in order to pop it or removing the ureterocele entirely and reattaching your baby's ureter and bladder. Your doctor will decide which type of surgery to perform, depending on the severity of the obstruction. He also will consider your child's age, health and medical history. In some cases, the affected kidney may be so damaged that a part of it will need to be removed. The other kidney will not be affected, so your child's kidney function should remain normal.
