Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to reduce or remove the blockage.

Stents or drains placed in the ureter or in the renal pelvis may provide short-term relief of symptoms.

A nephrostomy tube, which drains urine from the kidney through the back, may be used to relieve the blockage.

Surgery to repair the underlying cause will usually correct the blockage.

Expectations (prognosis):

This condition damages the structures of the urinary tract. It may result in permanent damage to the kidney. If only one kidney is involved, the other kidney usually continues to work, and kidney failure or insufficiency does not occur.

Complications:

• Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
• High blood pressure
• Permanent failure of the affected kidney (chronic kidney failure)

Calling your health care provider:

Call your doctor if you have flank pain or other symptoms of chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy.

If you have already been diagnosed with this condition, call your health care provider if symptoms worsen or persist despite treatment, or if new symptoms develop.