Birth Defects

If a urological birth defect is detected on ultrasound during pregnancy (in utero), our physicans can work with your obstetrician to plan the appropriate time for surgery. Some of these conditions include:

urinary tract obstructions
reflux
(backflow of urine into the kidneys)
bladder exstrophy
(the bladder is located outside of the body instead of inside)
congenital kidney tumors

Some congenital problems may require immediate treatment after the birth of a child while others can be scheduled at a later date.

Common urological problems that are detected after the birth of a child include hypospadias, where the urethral opening is not located at its normal position at the end of the penis; hydrocele, an enlarged scrotal sac with fluid surrounding the testes; and undescended testes, a condition where one or both testes fail to travel from the abdomen to the scrotum.

All of these conditions are routinely treated by our pediatric urological physicians. However, it is important that surgical repair be performed at a specific time during a child's development to avoid complications and to ensure the best possible outcome.