Ureteral jets in normal second- and third-trimester pregnancy

Purpose We wished to assess whether urodynamic changes accompanying normal pregnancy altered the pattern of ureteral jets, complicating detection of pathologic obstruction. Methods Ureteral jets were observed with color Doppler sonography for 5 minutes in 26 women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and in 6 nonpregnant controls (3 men and 3 women). Results A mean of 5.5 jets/minute were detected in the pregnant subjects, and the mean difference in frequency of jets between the right and left sides was 42%. Corresponding results for controls were 7.6 jets/minute and 11%, respectively. The 2 groups were significantly different with respect to jet symmetry (p < 0.02). Unilateral absence of jets was noted in 4 pregnant women but in no controls. Conclusions Because of variation in ureteral jet bilaterality and symmetry during the later stages of pregnancy, caution is recommended in the use of the technique to diagnose obstructive urolithiasis in this population. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 26:423–426, 1998.