Renal ultrasonic diagnosis in pregnancy. Prospective study of pyelo-calyceal changes in the mother and their obstetric implications
Gilliaux, P.; Gautier, C.; Vanderick, G.; De Muylder, E.
Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction 16(2): 183-187
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0368-2315 PMID: 3295000 Document Number: 291972
An acute pyelonephritis is still a serious complication of pregnancy. Urinary stasis plays an important role in the pathogenicity of this infection. 232 patients without symptoms were studied to find out how much urinary stasis occurred by measuring dilatations of the pyelo-calices by ultrasound. The authors suggest that a correlation between the bacteriological examination of the urine and the ultrasound appearance of the kidney can be established. Asymptomatic urinary infection occurs more frequently when there is dilatation of the pelvis of the kidney greater than 12 mm in the right kidney and 7 mm in the left. This is why they suggest that an ultrasound examination of the hilum of the kidney should be carried out routinely to screen for patients who are at risk of having pyelonephritis in pregnancy.