Dynamic ultrasound for assessing obstructions in the upper urinary tracts: Usefulness and reliability

Abstract

Renal ultrasound is not a functional type of examination, which means it cannot be used to determine the degree of obstruction of the upper urinary tract, for which more or less invasive exams such as Whitaker's test, renogram and/or urography must be perfomed. Dynamic ultrasound with furosemide test gives information on the morphology and also the degree of obstruction and is extremely useful in the pre and post-operative assessment of patients with upper urinary tract pathologies. A total of 72 renoureteral units in 39 patients were studied. Patients with a normal “dynamic” ultrasound picture were excluded, while the others were also studied with renogram and/or urography. Data analysis shows dynamics ultrasound reliability is on a par with that of the above-mentioned invasive methods (88–95%). Given the simplicity of use and its availability in all hospital structures, it is therefore considered that dynamic ultrasound should be used immediately in studying obstructions of the upper urinary tracts.