Posterior urethral valves (PUV)

What does posterior urethral valves (PUV) mean?

Posterior urethral valves (PUV) is when the valves of the urethra are blocked, which doesn’t allow urine to flow normally.

The reverse flow of the urine occurs and can affect all of the child’s urinary tract organs, including the urethra, bladder, ureters (tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder) and kidneys. These organs swell with urine, which causes tissue and cell damage.

Posterior urethral valves (PUV) are a rare congenital disorder.

What are the signs and symptoms of posterior urethral valves (PUV)?

PUV symptoms which can range from mild to severe include:

• Bedwetting or daytime wetting (in potty trained children)

• Difficulty urinating

• Enlarged bladder, which may be detectable through the abdomen as a large mass

• Pain when urinating

• Urinary frequency

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)

• Weak urine stream

What are the causes of posterior urethral valves (PUV)?

PUV occurs during fetal development, and it is the most common cause of severe urinary tract obstruction in children. The cause is generally unknown, but genetics do seem to play a role.