URETERAL JETS IN NORMAL 2ND-TRIMESTER AND 3RD-TRIMESTER PREGNANCY

Purpose. We wished to assess whether urodynamic changes accompanying n ormal pregnancy altered the pattern of ureteral jets, complicating det ection of pathologic obstruction. Methods. Ureteral jets were observed with color Doppler sonography for 5 minutes in 26 women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and in 6 nonpregnant controls (3 men and 3 women). Results. A mean of 5.5 jets/minute were detected in the pregnant subjects, and the mean difference in frequency of jets betwee n the right and left sides was 42%. Corresponding results for controls were 7.6 jets/minute and 11%, respectively. The 2 groups were signifi cantly different with respect to jet symmetry (p < 0.02). Unilateral a bsence of jets was noted in 4 pregnant women but in no controls. Concl usions. Because of variation in ureteral jet bilaterality and symmetry during the later stages of pregnancy, caution is recommended in the u se of the technique to diagnose obstructive urolithiasis in this popul ation. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.