RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate postoperative renal function in children with congenital moderate or severe hydronephrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>99mTc-labeled diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid scintigraphy was performed in 50 children with unilateral moderate or severe hydronephrosis to determine postoperative renal function. We also analyzed the factors influencing renal function recovery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Average postoperative renal function in 50 cases was 40.62% +/- 10.09%. Among them, 32% of patients had nearly normal renal function and differentiated renal function reached up to 45%. Average preoperative and postoperative renal function in 25 cases was 23.89% +/- 11.65% and 39.33% +/- 8.59% respectively and the increase of renal function was about 15.44% +/- 11.18% (P = 0.0003). Renal parenchyma thickness was negatively correlated with postoperative renal function (r = -0.62, P = 0.0009). The follow-up period was positively correlated with postoperative renal function (r = 0.58, P = 0.0026). The patients' age had no correlation with renal function recovery (r = -0.05, P = 0.80). Recovery of renal function in hydronephrosis with extrarenal pelvis was greater than that in hydronephrosis with intrarenal pelvis (P = 0.016).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Postoperative renal function in children with moderate or severe hydronephrosis can recover to normal. Recovery of renal function was more obvious in hydronephrosis with thinner renal parenchyma, longer follow-up period and extrarenal pelvis.</p>