Surgical Results: International Reflux Study in Children--United States Branch

A total of 87 patients in the United States underwent surgical correction of vesicoureteral reflux as part of the International Reflux Study in Children. Of the 66 patients randomized to surgical treatment 2 were transferred to the medical group before surgery was performed, while 23 patients originally assigned to receive medical management ultimately underwent surgery. Of the patients 17 (20%) were less than 1 year old, while the remaining children were evenly distributed by age in 2-year intervals up to age 9 years. Reimplantation was performed by the Cohen technique in 52% and by the Politano-Leadbetter technique in 28% of the patients. Bilateral reimplantation was done in 70 patients (80%). The results were satisfactory, with no obstructions. In 81% of the patients average followup was 3.9 years, although followup of less than 1 year in 19% was satisfactory to determine obstruction. Only 3% of the children were lost to followup. Postoperative reflux, which was noted in 5 patients, resolved in all but 1 ureter. These results reflect the experience of senior surgeons in pediatric urology.