Evaluation of pre- and postpartal ultrasonography to detect congenital uropathies.

The aim of the study was to evaluate prenatal and postpartal sonographic in vestigations to diagnose congenital uropathies. Patients/Methods: The Mainz birth defect monitoring system, the "Mainzer Model", was launched in 1990. Over a period of five years (1/90 to 1/95) 19028 newborns underwent postpa rtal sonographic examination. Anamnestic data including prepartal sonograph ic examination were collected. According to a defined ultrasound criteria l ist, ultrasound findings were considered normal in 94.8% of the neonates, 4 .4% were defined as requiring a follow-up examination and 0.8% were patholo gical. In the current study we analyzed patients with pathological findings with their pre- and postpartal sonographic investigations as well as their clinical data (urinary tract infections, operative procedures). Results: I n the study group prenatal ultrasonography showed evidence of severe anomal ies only in 51 fetuses (32.9%). Surgical correction was required in 39 case s. 20 (51%) have been diagnosed prenatally. 28 patients presented with urin ary tract infections. Out of this group only 11 patients have been detected by prenatal ultrasound. Conclusion: In conclusion, postnatal ultrasound is more effective to diagnose anomalies of the urinary tract. To prevent comp lications i.e, urinary tract infections a neonatal screening program would be valuable.