Management of neonatal ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

No topic in urology is more contentious than the management of neonatal ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Those favoring early diagnosis and correction of obstruction in early infancy cite excellent return of function and superior surgical results compared with delayed repair. Others believe that hydronephrosis improves or resolves with growth in many instances. In the most widely quoted series, almost all such patients improved. This article attempts to separate opinion from fact. The arguments for early surgery and for observation, even when obstruction has been diagnosed, are reviewed. Several experiences with long-term surveillance are summarized.