Hypothesis – a congenitally lax pubourethral ligament may be a contributing cause of vesicoureteral reflux

INTRODUCTION: The hypothesis derives from the field of female stress incontinence. Application of pressure on the anterior vaginal wall at midurethra with a hemostat restores the geometry of the vesicoureteral junction and continence. METHODS: We applied unilateral midurethral pressure during a radiological investigation of a 15-year-old female patient who had undergone 2 surgeries for ureteric reflux. RESULTS: On injection of the dye into the bladder, reflux was noted in the left ureter, and this disappeared within 2-3 seconds after pressure was applied on 2 successive occasions in the midurethral area of the vagina. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis that a musculoelastic mechanism dependent on a competent pubourethral ligament may play a role in vesicoureteral valve closure appears to have been confirmed, at least in one case. Hopefully this observation will lead to further studies, and perhaps, new directions for therapy.