Review Article- The obstructed kidney

Urinary obstruction is a common cause of acute and chronic renal failure. The symptoms and signs of an obstructed kidney may vary from asymptomatic to severe acute pain. The diagnosis and management of a hydronephrotic kidney is not very difficult with ultrasonography, IVU, and diuretic renography. The approach to manage such patients has been rationalized after the advent of diuretic renography. The obstructed kidney should be decompressed as early as possible because of progressive loss of renal function with prolonged obstruction. Nephrectomy may be required for a non-functioning kidney. Further advancements are being made as the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of the obstructed kidney become known to us.