PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS - THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS

Patients no longer initially present only at the time of birth, but ar e often referred by the obstetrician for prenatal counseling. The role of the surgical consultant is to present information regarding the na tural history of the prenatally diagnosed anomaly, its surgical manage ment if required, and the long-term outcome. This is an important and natural extension of the pediatric urologic practice. Prenatal ultraso nography has provided the opportunity to evaluate and identify fetuses with presumed ureteropelvic junction obstruction, and the ability to appropriately manage the infant postnatally.