Long-term followup of 158 young adults surgically treated for vesicoureteral reflux in childhood:: The ongoing risk of urinary tract infections

Purpose: We recorded urinary tract infections in the long term after surgical reflux correction. Materials and Methods: A total of 158 of 189 patients (160 females and 29 males) who were followed in 1985, an average of 10.8 years after reflux surgery were contacted again in 1995. At that time median patient age was 26 years (range 15.7 to 38.8) and the average period of observation was 20.3 years (range 13.4 to 26). Results: In 82% of the patients febrile and in 18% afebrile symptomatic urinary tract infections had developed preoperatively. In the first 10-year period after operation 46% of patients continued to have symptomatic urinary tract infections compared with 52% in the second 10-year interval. In the 2 periods the incidence of febrile urinary tract infection was about 17%. In the whole postoperative observation period symptomatic urinary tract infections developed in 66% of all patients, including 74% of female patients. Symptomatic urinary tract infections were observed during 8 of 46 pregnancies (17%). Conclusions: After successful surgical reflux correction susceptibility to urinary tract infection continues for a number of years in many girls and women. However, postoperatively urinary tract infections are primarily afebrile.