Skip to main content
  1. Right Decisions
  2. GGC - Clinical Guidelines
  3. Maternity
  4. Back
  5. Neonatal guidelines of relevance to Maternity
  6. Antenatally Detected Renal tract Abnormalities Management (578)
RDS newsletter for February now available

Right Decision Service newsletter: February 2025

Welcome to the February 2025 update from the RDS team

1.     Next release of RDS

 

A new release of RDS is planned (subject to outcomes of current testing) for week beginning 24th February. This will deliver:

 

  • Fixes to mitigate the recurring glitches with the RDS admin area and the occasional brief user interface outages which have arisen following implementation of the new distributed technology infrastructure in December 2024.

 

  • Capability to embed content from Google calendar, Google Maps, Daily Motion, Twitter feeds, Microsoft Stream into RDS pages.

 

  • Capability to include simple multiplication in RDS calculators.

 

The release will also incorporate a number of small fixes, including:

  • Exporting of form within Medicines Sick Day Guidance in polypharmacy toolkit
  • Links to redundant content appearing in search in some RDS toolkits
  • Inclusion of accordion headers alongside accordion text in search result snippets.
  • Feedback form on mobile app.
  • Internal links on mobile app version of benzo tapering tool

 

We will let you know when the date and time for the new release are confirmed.

 

2.     New RDS developments

There is now the capability to publish toolkits on the web with left hand side navigation rather than tiles on the homepage. To use this feature, turn on the “Toggle navigation panel” option at the top of the Page settings menu at toolkit homepage level – see below. Please note that publication to downloadable mobile app for this type of navigation is still under development.

The Benzodiazepine tapering tool (https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/benzotapering) is now available as part of the RDS toolkit for the national benzodiazepine prescribing guidance developed by the Scottish Government Effective Prescribing team. The tool uses this national guidance developed with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary group. This should be used in combination with professional judgement and an understanding of the needs of the individual patient.

3.     Archiving and version control and new RDS Search and Browse interface

Due to the intensive work Tactuum has had to undertake on the new technology infrastructure has pushed back the delivery dates again and some new requirements have come out of the recent user acceptance testing. It now looks likely to be an April release for the search and browse interface. The archiving and version control functionality may be released earlier. We’ll keep you posted.

4.     Statistics

At the end of January, Olivia completed the generation of the latest set of usage statistics for all RDS toolkits. If you would like a copy of the stats for your toolkit, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot .

 

5.     Review of content past its review date

We have now generated reports of all RDS toolkit content that has exceeded its review date by 6 months or more. We will be in touch later this month with toolkit owners and editors to agree the plan for updating or withdrawing out of date content.

 

6.     Toolkits in development

Some important toolkits in development by the RDS team include:

  • National CVD prevention pathways – due for release end of March 2025.
  • National respiratory pathways, optimal cancer diagnostic pathways and cancer prehabilitation pathways from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. We will shortly start work on the national cancer referral pathways, first version due for release via RDS around end of June 2025.
  • HIS Quality of Care Review toolkit – currently in final stages of quality assurance.

 

The RDS team and other information scientists in HIS have also been producing evidence summaries for the Scottish Government Realistic Medicine team, to inform development of national guidance around Procedures of Limited Clinical Value. This guidance will in due course be translated into an RDS toolkit.

 

7. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Friday 28th February 12-1 pm
  • Tuesday 11th March 4-5 pm

 

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

 

To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form  - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area.   If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

 

Antenatally Detected Renal tract Abnormalities Management (578)

Objectives

The aim of this guideline is to standardise referral to appropriate health care providers when antenatally detected renal tract abnormalities are detected

Please report any inaccuracies or issues with this guideline using our online form

Renal tract abnormalities account for 20% of major fetal anomalies detected in the second and third trimester. The detection rate for these anomalies is in the region of 80%. Although the majority of abnormalities have a favourable outcome or resolve spontaneously, a proportion will go on to have renal dysfunction in the neonatal period requiring medical or surgical intervention. Anomalies may be unilateral or bilateral, associated with renal parenchymal disease and may demonstrate oligohydramnios. Oligohydramnios at early gestations is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia and early neonatal death. Appropriate identification and counselling of these patients should identify those at risk requiring antibiotic prophylaxis and follow up scans and those where outcome is unlikely to be favourable.

During the 18-20 week scan fetal kidneys can be identified as hyperechoic in comparison to bowels. Colour flow Doppler can be used to demonstrate the presence of renal arteries branching from the descending aorta. The ureters are not typically seen and should measure <1mm in diameter. Measurements of the renal pelvis should be taken from the AP diameter. Document any calyceal or ureteric dilatation, uterocole or any parenchymal abnormalities.

High Risk Abnormalities : referral to fetal medicine

  • Bilateral hydronephrosis >10mm
  • Unilateral hydronephrosis >10mm in a fetus with a single kidney
  • Suspected bladder outlet obstruction
  • Bilaterally abnormal renal parenchyma
  • Any renal abnormality associated with oligohydramnios

Fetal Medicine review

Discussion with Paediatric Nephrologists

Neonatal management plan documented in maternal notes

Moderate Risk Abnormalities : referral to local consultant

  • Unilateral hydronephrosis ≥10mm
  • Bilateral Hydronephrosis 7-10mm
  • Hydronephrosis 7-10mm with a single kidney
  • Unilateral dysplastic / cystic kidney. Normal contra lateral kidney
  • Ureterocoele
  • Single kidney

Local consultant review

Rescan 28 + 34-36 weeks

Local paediatric follow up ultrasound scan and inform parents of signs of urinary tract infection

Mild Risk Abnormalities

  • Unilateral Hydronephrosis 7-10mm

Sonographer scan : 32 weeks

if < 10mm at 32 weeks - no further follow up required

if > 10mm refer to local consultant

Differential Diagnosis of antenatally detected hydronephrosis

  • Transient hydronephrosis 41-88%
  • Pelvicureteric junction obstruction 10-30%
  • Vesicoureteric reflux 10-20%
  • Vesicoureteric junction obstruction and megaureter 5-10%
  • Multicystic dysplastic kidney 4-6%
  • Duplex kidney +/- ureterocoele 2-7%
  • Posterior uretheral valves 1-2%
  • Urethral atresia / Urogenital sinus / Prune belly syndrome / Tumour <1%

Information for paediatrics should be documented in maternal notes

Complete GGC alert form – send to neonates plus copy in notes
  • Date and agreed gestation at the time of scan
  • Amniotic fluid volume
  • Assessment of kidneys - position, size, texture, renal pelvis AP diameter
  • Appearance of ureters and collecting system
  • Bladder - volume, bladder wall thickness, emptying
  • Any other concerns

Antenatally detected renal tract abnormalities

Renal pelvis dilation on antenatal ultrasound occurs in 1-2% of all pregnancies. It is bilateral in 17-54% of cases. An AP diameter of >15mm at 20 weeks is associated with a 50% reduction in renal function. Moderate hydronephrosis of 10-15mm is associated with a 30% reduction in renal function.

  • Vesicoureteric reflux demonstates unilateral or bilateral renal pelvis dilation and can cause renal scarring in-utero, resulting in poor renal function.70% of mild reflux cases resolve spontaneously. . Postnatal antibiotics and MCUG scans are required. This condition has a 30% recurrence rate.
  • Pelviureteric junction obstruction has an incidence of 1/2000 live births and is unilateral in 90% of cases. It shows a dilated renal pelvis with normal ureter and bladder. Postnatal antibiotics and MCUG and DMSA scans will be required to assess severity of the disease.
  • Vesicoutetric junction obstruction is associated with a dilated ureter and is bilateral in 25% of cases Postnatal antibiotics and MCUG and DMSA scans will be required to assess severity of the disease. Ureteric re-implantation may be required
  • Posterior uretheral valve have an incidence of 1/5000 to 1/8000 occurring in males leading to bladder neck obstruction and demonstrated a thick walled distended bladder with dilated posterior urethra, oligo- or anhydramnios, hydroureter and hydronephrosis. 8% of cases have chromosomal abnormality. 44% of surviving babies develop end stage renal failure by age 5. Urethral atresia presents similarly but does not demonstrate posterior urethral dilation and has anhydramnios with severe prognosis.

Unilateral renal agenesis has an incidence of 1/1000-4/1000 it has a normal prognosis but needs neonatal follow up to ensure no abnormalities exist in the kidney.

Bilateral renal agenesis results in neonatal death secondary to pulmonary hypoplasia and has a recurrence rate of 3-6% in future pregnancies

Infantile polycystic disease is autosomal recessive with an incidence 1/40,000 - 1/50,000 live births and demonstrates bilateral symmetrically enlarged hyper-echoic kidneys with a small or absent bladder and oligohydramnios. Prognosis of this condition is poor.

Multicystic dysplastic kidney results spontaneously and demonstrates multiple non communicating cysts of different sizes affecting one or both kidneys. incidence 1/3000 live births. It can be associated with cardaic, GI and CNS abnormalities. Unilateral disease has a good prognosis but bilateral disease is associated with anhydramnios, pulmonary hypoplasia and neonatal death

Adult polycystic kidney disease has an incidence of 1/1000 live births and is autosomal dominant. It results in cystic dilation of the nephrons of both kidneys and may not be demonstrated until the third trimester. If detected antenatally 43% of babies die within the first year of life.

Obstructive cystic dysplasia has an incidence of 1/8000 live births and results from obstruction of the urinary tract in the 1st or second trimesters. It can be unilateral or bilateral and is demonstrated by a small echogenic kidney, cortical cysts, and other signs of obstruction e.g. hydroureter. It is associated with VACTERL abnormalities. Unilateral disease has a good prognosis.

Renal pelvis dilatation detected antenatally GGC alert form

Renal anomalies detected or suspected antenatally (WoS Neonatal guideline)

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 22/08/2022

Next review date: 31/08/2027

Author(s): Marie Anne Ledingham.

Version: 2

Approved By: Obstetric Clinical Governance Group

Document Id: 578

References

Fetal anomaly screening programme Handbook, Public health England, August 2015

Arora, S. Yadav, P et.al J Pediatr Uro. 2015 Oct;11(5):248.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2015.02.008. Epub 2015 Mar 13

Kumar B, Alfirevic Z. ed., (2016) Fetal Medicine, 1st ed. Cambridge University Press, pp. 184-193

Sinha A, Bagga A, Krishna A, et al. Revised guidelines on management of antenatal hydronephrosis. Indian Journal of Nephrology. 2013;23(2):83-97. doi:10.4103/0971-4065.109403.