Kidney obstruction (PJU)

This is a painful kidney condition which develops when there is a blockage in the ureter, the tube which carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder. It is known as pelviureteric junction obstruction, or PJU obstruction.

Kidney obstruction is a fairly common condition. Approximately 2,000 operations are carried out to clear obstructions, but several thousand other people live with the condition managed by painkillers and antibiotics.

What are the symptoms of kidney obstruction?

The following are symptoms of kidney obstruction, although they can also be caused by other conditions, so a thorough assessment is important:

• Pain in the side of the back, particularly immediately after drinking alcohol.
• Kidney infection, causing high fevers and pain in the loin.
• Blood in the urine.

The amount of pain experienced is depends upon the degree of the blockage. In some cases, PUJ is diagnosed after tests taken because the patient has blood in the urine. Left untreated, PUJ will damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure.

Causes of kidney obstruction

The ureter is normally straight and obstructions can occur if the ureter is kinked. This can be present from birth and may not cause any symptoms until later in life. Blockages can also occur as a result of kidney stones and more rarely, due to cancer.

Diagnosing a kidney obstruction

Assessment for a kidney obstruction will involve some or all of these tests:

• A physical examination may show some swelling felt in the abdomen, or tenderness in the side of the back, close to the obstruction.
• Ultrasound can show the kidney has become enlarged as a result of the obstruction.
• An Intravenous Urogram (IVU) is a test using a special dye which is injected into the kidneys through a vein and shows up in an x-ray.
• A Diuretic Renogram is a kidney scan and is almost always used to diagnose a kidney obstruction.

Treatment for kidney obstruction

Surgery is not always necessary. Several thousand people live with the condition without having surgery and control symptoms with painkillers and antibiotics. However treatment is considered when:

• The condition becomes increasingly painful.
• The obstruction is damaging kidney function.
• Kidney stones are developed as a result of the obstruction.
• The obstruction causes infection.
• There is high blood pressure (more rarely).

▸ Read more about our range of kidney obstruction treatments.