1. Antibiotics to Relieve Symptoms
Antibiotics are a first line of defense for both reflux and obstructive types of uropathy. They are used to treat the bladder infection that you may be experiencing along with your uropathy, and they will help to relieve the pain and discomfort you feel. In cases of reflux uropathy, you may need to take low doses of antibiotics on a daily basis for four to six months as your condition is monitored. If no new infection occurs and your kidneys show no damage after this time, you may be able to discontinue the dosage until such a time as you become symptomatic again.
2. Catheterization to Facilitate Urination
In severe cases of obstructive uropathy, if you are having difficulty emptying your bladder, you may need to have a Foley catheter inserted through your urethra to help the urine drain. Stents may also be placed in your ureter to provide you with some relief, or nephrostomy tubes may be used to drain your kidneys from the back. Whichever form is used, the fix is only short term at best and is a precursor to corrective surgery.
3. Surgery to Remove or Correct the Cause
In cases of obstructive uropathy, the obstruction itself will need to be removed or corrected, although the methods used will vary depending on the cause. If your uropathy is caused by bladder stones, these can often be removed via cystoscopy or lithotripsy. If you suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and this is the cause of the uropathic obstruction, you may need a surgical procedure called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or even an open prostatectomy. If you are diagnosed with retroperitoneal fibrosis, you may need surgery to remove some or all of the mass of fibrous tissue blocking your ureters.
Reflux uropathy usually does not require surgical treatment, as it is most commonly found in children, and with proper management, it usually goes away on its own or with medication. If you suffer from this condition as an adult, however, or if your child's condition does not improve with antibiotic therapy, surgery may be necessary to reimplant your ureters into your bladder at a normal angle.
