Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR): Elise's Story

Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) Diagnosis

Elise is a typical three-year-old; she’s active, happy and loves to play outside. Right before her second birthday, though, she seemed more irritable than usual and developed a fever. Her parents took her to the pediatrician, where they checked Elise’s ears, nose, and throat and all seemed well.

“I noticed her urine smelled a little bit funny that morning, so I told the doctor,” Elise’s mom said. The doctor ordered a urine culture and discovered Elise had a urinary tract infection (UTI). “We thought nothing of it because a UTI could happen, but then she got another one shortly after and then a third one after that. So, after three, we thought something’s probably not right.”

Their pediatrician referred Elise to Arkansas Children’s, where she was diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), a congenital condition in which urine backs up into the kidneys. To make matters more complicated, Elise had double ureters on the right side of her kidney.

Corrective Surgery for VUR

Pediatric urologist Dr. Stephen Canon told Elise’s parents about corrective surgery where they reimplant the ureter to help the urine flow normally and without reflux.

Elise had the surgery on March 8 and afterward “had her own beautiful hospital room,” according to her mom. Since the surgery, she’s transformed from a toddler with months of UTIs, constant doctor appointments, and daily medication to a typical, happy three-year-old.

“Going through all of Elise’s recurrent UTIs was hard. We had a lot of worry, anxiety and difficulty trying to figure out next steps, but the urology team here at Children’s was just so helpful!”