Gerald R. Jerkins MD
Pediatric Urology Associates
of the MidSouth, P.C.
Memphis Tennessee

Urethral Valves

Urine leaves the bladder through a tube called the urethra, which in boys passes through the penis. During early fetal development, there are tiny "valves" at the beginning of the urethra, which block the passage of urine. These normally disappear well before birth so that urine can flow freely out the end of the penis. In some boys, however, the valves remain after birth and may cause serious problems by interfering with the flow of urine. They are called posterior urethral valves.

Often these valves are detected by ultrasound during pregnancy, but many times they are not discovered until the newborn period, when the pediatrician finds that the baby's bladder is distended and enlarged. Other warning signals include a continual dribbling of urine and a weak stream during urination. If you notice these symptoms, notify your pediatrician at once.

Posterior urethral valves require immediate medical attention to prevent serious urinary tract infections or damage to the kidneys. If the blockage is severe, the urine can back up through the ureters (the tubes between the bladder and the kidneys), creating pressure that can damage the kidneys.

Treatment of Urethral Valves
If a child is having urinary blockage due to posterior urethral valves, the pediatrician may pass a small tube up the penis into the bladder to relieve the obstruction temporarily. Then X-rays of the bladder and kidneys will be ordered to confirm the diagnosis and to see if any damage has occurred to the upper urinary tract. A pediatric urologist will then perform surgery to remove the obstructing valves.

Excerpted from Caring for Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, Bantam 1999

© Copyright 2000 American Academy of Pediatrics