Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in children with glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine dermal collagen. Short-term results.

BACKGROUND Endoscopic treatment using glutaraldehyde cross-linked (GAX) collagen was conducted on 4 children with bilateral primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)..... a 1-year-old boy and three 5- to 8-year-old girls $B!D (Ball having a history of repeated hospitalization for fever due to acute pyelonephritis, visiting as pediatric outpatients regularly and receiving antibiotics continuously. By international VUR classification, 4 ureters were grade 3, 2 grade 4, and 2 grade 5. METHODS After nonallergy to GAX collagen was confirmed intracutaneously, a needle was used through a 9.5 Fr cystoscope channel to puncture bladder mucosa 4 to 5 mm from the affected ureteral orifice at 6 o'clock under general anesthesia; 1.1 to 1.9 ml of GAX collagen was injected immediately below affected orifices. RESULTS Three months after surgery, voiding cystourethrography showed reflux had disappeared in 6 ureters, for a short-term success rate of 75%. VUR in the Remaining 2 ureters improved from grade 3 to 1 and from grade 5 to 4. No postoperative urinary tract infection occurred and antibiotics were stopped. CONCLUSION Since GAX collagen is less viscous than Teflon paste, it is easily injected into submucosa, does not form granuloma or migrate to other organs, and is noncarcinogenic. Endoscopic VUR treatment using GAX collagen is indicated when less invasion and shorter hospitalization are considered, although it requires general anesthesia, which itself involves some risk.