After Ureteral Reimplantation Surgery: How to Care for Your Child

Ureteral reimplantation surgery is used to keep urine flowing in the direction it is supposed to, rather than back to the kidneys.

Normally, urine is made in the kidneys and flows downward in tubes (called ureters) to the bladder, where it is stored until a person urinates (pees).

Sometimes this doesn't work properly and urine flows back into the ureters, and up toward the kidneys. This is called vesicoureteral reflux, or VUR. Ureteral reimplantation surgery can help fix this condition.

During your child's surgery, the health care provider changed the way one or both ureters connect to the bladder. Your child may have a catheter (tube) in the bladder to drain it, and may have stents (tubes) in the ureters to keep them open as they heal from surgery.

The catheter is usually removed in the first day or two after surgery. If stents were placed, they will be removed in the operating room at a later time. This brief procedure is done with a small scope in the bladder while your child is under general anesthesia.

While recovering from the surgery, your child may have bladder spasms (cramping) and feel the need to pee more frequently. Your health care provider may prescribe medicine to make your child more comfortable. You also may notice a small amount of blood in the urine.

• Give your child any medicine as instructed by the health care provider. This may include antibiotics that your child was on before the surgery.

• Keep any dressings or bandages clean and dry. Follow the health care provider's instructions for changing and removing them.

• Follow your health care provider's instructions for bathing, and for how long your child should avoid baths, swimming, and hot tubs.

• Ask the health care provider when your child can return to school, gym class, sports, and other activities.

• Give your child plenty of fruits, vegetables, and caffeine-free fluids to encourage regular bowel movements.

• Schedule a follow-up appointment with the health care provider.

Your child:

• Has cloudy or foul-smelling urine.

• Has blood clots or increasing amounts of blood in the urine.

• Has tenderness, redness, swelling, or pain around the incision.

• Has bleeding or drainage from the incision.

• Develops a fever of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher.

• Has pain that is not controlled by the recommended medication.

• Develops a cough or fast breathing.

• Is constipated.

Your child:

• Is vomiting and can't keep down food or fluids.

• Is unable to urinate.

• Appears dehydrated; signs include dizziness, drowsiness, a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, producing less urine or darker than usual urine, crying with little or no tears.

• Has difficulty breathing.

• Develops noisy or irregular breathing.

• Has difficulty waking up.