Conditions
Conditions that are often associated with Unilateral Hydronephrosis include:
- Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy (when urine cannot drain through the ureter)
- Blockage of a ureter due to scarring, tumor, urinary stones
- Chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy
- Vesicoureteric reflux (backflow of urine from bladder to kidney)
- Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
- Hydronephrosis that occurs without a known cause during pregnancy
Symptoms
A person with Hydronephrosis may have no symptoms or may experience:
- Abdominal mass
- Flank pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Urinary tract infection
- Fever
- Painful urination (dysuria)
- Increased urinary frequency
- Increased urinary urgency
Diagnosis
Unilateral Hydronephrosis can be diagnosed with an imaging test such as an MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound.
Treatment
Your treatment may include:
- A ureteral stent (tube that allows the ureter to drain into the bladder)
- A nephrostomy tube (allows the blocked urine to drain through the back)
- Antibiotics for infections
Preventive antibiotics may be prescribed to decrease the risk of urinary tract infections in patients who have long-term hydronephrosis.