title: [Ultrasonography of the upper urinary tract in patients with spinal cord injury].
abstract: A lesion of the upper urinary tract (UUT) is a possible outcome of the bladder dysfunction following a spinal cord injury (SCI). The most common findings are hydronephrosis, bladder-ureteral reflux and pyelonephritis. Aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of UUT abnormalities, evaluable by ultrasound (US), in a population of SCI patients; furthermore we correlated the presence of such abnormalities to clinical findings. We evaluated 115 consecutive patients who underwent US scan of UUT. Mean time between injury and our evaluation was 81.5 +/- 100.2 months. Lesion level was cervical (38/115), dorsal (59/115) and lumbar (18/115). Eight patients emptied their bladder spontaneously, 105 by means of intermittent catheterization, while 2 were wearing indwelling catheter. Seventy-four patients used anticholinergics drugs. It was evaluated the presence of: hydronephrosis, renal stones and chronic pyelonephritis using US. Afterward the presence of such alterations was correlated to sex and age of patients, time between injury and our evaluation, method of bladder emptying and use of anticholinergics drugs. In 25/115 patients (21.7%) were found abnormalities of UUT. A significative correlation was found between presence of UUT lesions and older age. In our series, prevalence of UUT abnormalities observed by means of US in SCI patients is 21.7%. This finding could be due to correct management and strict follow up of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Urologia, Università Tor Vergata, IRCCS Ospedale S.ta Lucia, Roma.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Virgili
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Finazzi Agrò
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannantoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vespasiani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Studio ecografico dell'alto tratto urinario in pazienti con trauma vertebro-midollare.