Systematic review

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Systematic review of the effectiveness of antenatal intervention for the treatment of congenital lower urinary tract obstruction

  1. RK Morris1,
  2. GL Malin2,
  3. KS Khan1,
  4. MD Kilby1,2

Article first published online: 8 FEB 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02500.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 117, Issue 4, pages 382–390, March 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Morris, R., Malin, G., Khan, K. and Kilby, M. (2010), Systematic review of the effectiveness of antenatal intervention for the treatment of congenital lower urinary tract obstruction. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 117: 382–390. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02500.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

  2. 2

    Department of Fetal Medicine, Birmingham Women’s Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

*Prof. MD Kilby, Department of Fetal Medicine, Birmingham Women’s Foundation Trust, Metchley Park Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK. Email m.d.kilby@bham.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 FEB 2010
  2. Article first published online: 8 FEB 2010
  3. Accepted 13 December 2009.

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Keywords:

  • Congenital lower urinary tract obstruction;
  • fetal disease;
  • in utero therapy;
  • renal function;
  • vesico-amniotic shunt

Please cite this paper as: Morris R, Malin G, Khan K, Kilby M. Systematic review of the effectiveness of antenatal intervention for the treatment of congenital lower urinary tract obstruction. BJOG 2010;117:382–390.

Background  Congenital lower urinary tract obstruction is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Antenatal detection has improved with advances in ultrasound technology, and has allowed the option of antenatal intervention.

Objectives  To systematically review the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of antenatal interventions to improve perinatal survival and postnatal renal function in congenital lower urinary tract obstruction.

Search strategy  Extensive electronic searches (database inception 2009) using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords, without restrictions. Reference lists of included studies were checked, and all authors were contacted.

Selection criteria  Studies were selected according to a predefined protocol. The included studies were observational or randomised trials, where an intervention was performed in utero to treat congenital lower urinary tract obstruction, compared with another intervention or no treatment.

Data collection and analysis  Data were extracted on study design, quality and results to construct 2 × 2 tables. Meta-analysis was performed where possible. Peto ORs with 95% CIs were computed.

Main results  Prenatal bladder drainage improved perinatal survival compared with no treatment (OR 3.86, 95% CI 2.00–7.45). This effect was amplified in a subgroup with poor predicted prognosis (OR 12.85, 95% CI 1.25–153.03). However, although treatment increases survival, it appears that the residual risk of poor long-term postnatal renal function is uncertain (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.13–1.90).

Author’s conclusions  Antenatal bladder drainage appears to improve perinatal survival in cases of congenital lower urinary tract obstruction, but may confer a high residual risk of poor postnatal renal function, based on observational studies. Randomised research with long-term follow up is necessary to determine the role of antenatal treatment in clinical practice.

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