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Characteristics of the bladder in infants with urinary tract infections: an ultrasound study

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Abstract

Background

Patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) are known to have impaired bladder function as demonstrated by urodynamic (UD) studies. UD is rarely performed in infants.

Objective

To evaluate bladder function in infants with UTI using a dynamic US protocol. Maximal bladder volume (MaxBV), residual volume (RV) and bladder wall thickness (BWT) were measured and compared with values from normal controls.

Materials and methods

A total of 57 consecutive infants (47 males, 10 females; mean age 0.48±0.30 years) with proven UTI, and 63 age-matched normal controls (37 males, 26 females; mean age 0.47±0.37 years) were recruited. MaxBV was determined just before voiding, and RV and BWT were measured after spontaneous voiding.

Results

Infants with UTI had smaller MaxBV (34.89 vs. 42.91 ml), larger RV (3.46 vs. 1.51 ml) and greater BWT (4.21 vs. 3.68 mm) than normal infants (P<0.05, Mann-Whitney test).

Conclusion

Smaller bladder volume, larger residual volume and thicker bladder wall in infants with UTI can be explained by bladder instability, hypercontractility and infection-induced oedema of the bladder wall during UTI. The US measurement of bladder parameters might serve as an objective guide for clinical diagnosis and allow objective evaluation of bladder function during posttreatment follow-up.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Ji-xian Liu, Biji Sreedhar & Chung-kwong Yeung

  2. Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Vivian Yee-fong Leung, Winnie Chiu-wing Chu & Constantine Metreweli

Authors
  1. Ji-xian Liu
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  2. Vivian Yee-fong Leung
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  3. Winnie Chiu-wing Chu
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  4. Biji Sreedhar
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  5. Constantine Metreweli
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  6. Chung-kwong Yeung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Winnie Chiu-wing Chu.

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Liu, Jx., Leung, V.Yf., Chu, W.Cw. et al. Characteristics of the bladder in infants with urinary tract infections: an ultrasound study. Pediatr Radiol 38, 1084–1088 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-008-0958-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-008-0958-y

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