Anyone Familiar with VCUG Ultrasound??

Updated on March 31, 2011
A.Z. asks from Boynton Beach, FL
12 answers

Ok mamas... searching desperately for your knowledge and experience with this.
My now 3 year old went for her well check up today. I was advised (well, STRONGLY recommended) that she should have a VCUG ultrasound for her kidneys. To test for kidney abnormalities. Its a test to show any "reflux" from her bladder into her kidneys. Its an invasive procedure where they restrain and sometimes sedate your child, insert a catheter and fill their bladder with iodine contrast and you have to sit and wait it out til they pee. Okay, that being said. my daughter had a UTI in OCTOBER 2010!! Why do this now? I did go to an urgent care facility when she was showing the symptoms of her UTI (it was a Saturday and my pediatrician was closed) They did a catheter then and sent the results to the doctor, and gave us an Rx for antibiotics and she was fine within a day or two. The test was positive for UTI, but No problems since. My question and concern is: Why Now?
Is her doc being ultra aggressive? She really scared me. Has anyone had any experience with this? Her reasoning was because she's under 4 years old, she could have a 50/50 chance of something being wrong. I researched a little, and its said that mild/moderate conditions are not really treated. If there WAS something wrong, wouldn't she have more symptoms? More infections? Im not against being proactive when it comes to healthcare.. but I surely do not want to put my child thru a horrible, scary test unnecessarily!!
Please Mamas.. share whatever information you might have with this! I scheduled the test for next week, but I will be getting a second opinion in the meantime.
Thank you!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you all so much for your responses!
We have decided not to do the procedure after getting a second opinion from a really great pediatrician.
We actually called my daughters pediatrician the next morning to ask a few questions. She refused! She told us
If we had questions we would have to make an appointment! Completely obsurd!
Needless to say, the second opinion was well worth it, and we are changing doctors!
Again, I really appreciate everyone! It's so great to be able to put a cause or concern
Out there and have all of you kind and caring mamas be there! Thank you!!

Featured Answers

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A.O.

answers from Sherman on

If younaren't comfortable with the Dr's recommendation then get a second opinion. That being said, both of my daughters have had the vcug...the youngest (2) twice and the older (4) once. It was not tramatic for either of them and there ware no complications. we went to an outpatient center that specializes in vcug's for children. Both girls were given a gas sedation and the test was done very quickly. My youngest has reflux and the older one does not.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

My godchild had a UTI a couple of weeks before she turned 3 years. Her doctor wanted her to have the test because she had 1 UTI under age 3. My friend who is a nurse said consider her 3 and did not have the test and her daughter has not had any issues and will be 6 next month.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

So, she only had 1 UTI, back in October???
Then now the Doc is suggesting this procedure?

Hmmm....
I would strongly get a 2nd opinion.

Toddlers, do get UTI's. It is not so unusual.

My daughter had one when she was a Toddler.
They just did a catheter to get a urine sample.
Then medicine.
And that's it.
Then she was better.
Just like you said they already did that with your daughter.

ASK your Ped... WHY the VCUG?

I would really get a 2nd opinion. With another Doc.
But this is not a chronic problem with your daughter, right?
She only had 1 UTI?
Does the Doc suspect anything else? And if so, why?

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J.O.

answers from Tampa on

My daughter had two VCUG's as well as other kidney/bladder tests, and it really wasn't anything scary at all, nor was she in any pain..When she was born, she had a T.E. Fistula, meaning, her esophagus was growing into her trachea instead of connecting to her stomach....Upon discovering that, they did immediate surgery. They also found that she only had one kidney and her bladder was refluxing back up into the kidney..She also has a small heart murmur which is scheduled to be fixed this month..Two issues down, one to go...Anyway, she has been on Septra, ever since birth for the bladder reflux, which prevents infection, and once she gets a little older, they are going to correct the problem. It's a simple procedure. All being said, it's been a long road so far...Anyway, I would just get it done just for piece of mind, it is no big deal at all...It may just be one time, and if there is a problem, they can catch it early and take care of it..Also, according to her urologist, most cases of reflux in children are common and mild, and if that's the case, your child will just grow out of it..They will put her on an antibiotic in the meantime..Unfortunately, my daughter has stage 5 reflux, and it can only be corrected by surgery...Trust me, I have been to way more doctor appts. than I can stand, but what can ya do..They are our babies....Good luck, hope there are no issues..

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I had one many years ago because I was having UTI infections every month or so. I'd had several infections. The results were normal.

If your daughter has had only the one infection and is not having any other symptoms I wouldn't have it done. All procedures have some risk and even tho the risk is small (I don't know what the risk is with this procedure in a child) why take the risk when there are no symptoms or reason to believe that there is a problem.

As an adult I was not under anesthesia. They have to anesthetize a toddler because she's too young to co-operate. Anesthesia in it's self is an added risk.

It isn't a horrible or scary test. With anesthesia your daughter won't even remember it. I just wouldn't take the small risk of having it done.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

I'm not sure why it was recommended for your daughter now. I have a long history with this issue in my own childhood and my youngest son had it and had to have the procedure at 4 months and 18 months. Luckily his resolved by 18 months, so we don't have to do that anymore. If she hasn't had any more problems and only had that one UTI, I don't really understand where she's coming from wanting you to do this. I would get a second opinion.

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I am familiar with this issue. My daughter has rivur, so we had the vcug to diagnose of course and then a dmsa to determine her kidney's are 100%. The vcug detects an issue with ureters. There are valves at both ends, that ensure urine only travels in one direction. If they are faulty the urine can flow back up. The defect level is measured from 1 to 5. I am luck my daughter is only a 2.

It is not uncommon for babies to have undetected uti's. A fever might be the only symptom. You only 72 to 80 hours to detect the cause. So even in America they are not detected, and children have kidney damage.
The problem is more to see if the defect exists so they can decide of more testing of kidney function is needed.

We were lucky at 5 months was her only one I caught it right away and was able to tell the exact symptoms and get it caught. Your daughter is potty training, so that might be late. Is she underweight? Because this is a major factor in children not gaining weight. That is often how it is diagnosed. Good luck

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L.P.

answers from Pittsfield on

I've never had any experience with this, but it sounds over the top to do because of only one infection. I'm glad you're getting a 2nd opinion.

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M.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

My son has these done yearly, he has never had a bladder infection but he does have a neurogenic bladder and it has caused kidney damage. If you are hesitant about having her go through it there is also a renal ultrasound a simple and basic ultrasound. Also go to a urologist and see if they would want you to have one. Sometimes when kids under the age of 5 get a bladder infection a doctor wants to make sure that there isn't something structurally wrong with her.

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J.J.

answers from Panama City on

We received a recommendation for this procedure for my daughter when she was 4. The difference here is that my daughter had chronic UTI for 2.5 years before we got to that point. If your daughter has only had the 1 infection, then I would say the Doc is jumping the gun. Even with the chronic nature of my daughter's infections, we opted not to have the procedure done because we were told they absolutely would not sedate her because is changes the tonicity of the the muscles of the bladder and can cause false results. The treatment was the same whether or not she had reflux>>>long term, low grade antibiotics followed by a wait and see period.

We are glad we didn't put her through the procedure. We take steps to avoid increasing her risk of UTI>>>no bubble baths, get out of wet bathing suits, wipe front to back, etc. She has only had 2 UTI's in the last 2 years. Ped now thinks she is outgrowing it.

Good Luck!

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T.F.

answers from Tampa on

Yes my girl had one when she was 5. Make SURE they use a small tube. They used one too big for my daughter & it was to say the least very traumatic for both of us. When they finally did use the smaller one oh wow it went right in no problem thennnnnnnnnn they tell her to pee so she gets up to go tot he bathroom well no they tell her she is to pee right there on the table. Now my girl was just starting to get vanity about her body & she was in a room with me & 3 GUYS no way was she gonna pee right there so they let her get up & when she came back they finished the test. Then after all this trauma she had to get an ultrasound she was TERRIFIED but the woman assure her everything would be ok & that this wouldnt hurt a bit & she took her time explained everything she was going to do BEFORE she did it. BTW this was at a navy base in Charleston, SC. Good luck & I would get a second opinion like they have said here it is after all your right as a mother to request it. I would do it so differently if I had to do it over again for sure. Then after all this ugh no problems so it was all for nothing.

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S.S.

answers from Miami on

She had 1 UTI in 4 Years????? NO WAY WOULD I TAKE HER! If she had reflux you would know it by now.

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