Double kidneys. Incomplete kidney duplication, what is it? Suspicion of kidney duplication

Classmates

In modern medicine, a huge number of diseases of the urinary system are identified. Recently, doctors are increasingly diagnosing kidney duplication. This phenomenon is not considered a disease, since it practically does not manifest itself in any way. However, it can serve as a fundamental factor for the development of inflammatory processes.

Duplication of the kidney is a pathology of the urinary system, in which the presence of two fused organs is observed. It is important to note that each has its own blood supply.

According to experts, this pathology develops even while the fetus is inside the mother’s womb. According to available statistics, for every 150 babies there is only one with this abnormal phenomenon, and most often it is diagnosed in girls.

The altered organ poses virtually no danger to humans, but often contributes to the development of very serious diseases.

Main reasons

As noted above, most often this type of pathology is diagnosed in young children. As for the main reasons contributing to the development of the problem, experts name the following:

  • genetic predisposition;
  • drug poisoning;
  • use of hormonal drugs during pregnancy;
  • bad habits of the expectant mother;
  • vitamin deficiency during pregnancy.

Kidney duplication does not have any obvious clinical features. Moreover, many people live with such an anomaly for many years and do not experience any difficulties.

If this pathology begins to manifest itself in any way, most likely health problems may appear in the near future (inflammatory processes, constant urinary retention, accumulation in the pelvis area, etc.). As a rule, it is the upper part of the organ that is underdeveloped. This appearance is also characteristic of dysplasia. The formation of so-called renal dysplasia with impaired urodynamics contributes to the formation of an anomaly in the form of organ duplication. In this type of situation, the following symptoms may be observed:

  • slight increase in temperature;
  • weakness;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • cloudy urine;
  • regular headaches;
  • discomfort and even pain in the lumbar area;
  • discomfort during urination.

Classification

Experts conditionally divide this pathology into two types:

  • Incomplete doubling. This is the most common developmental disorder of the human genitourinary system. It is important to note that doubling of the left kidney, as well as the right one, is equally common in patients. In this case, the organ is significantly increased in size, and ultrasound clearly shows its lower and upper sections with their own renal arteries. The pyelocaliceal system, as a rule, remains unified.
  • Full doubling. With this pathology, the formation of two kidneys instead of one is observed. In addition, such an organ has a double pyelocaliceal system, one of which has an underdeveloped pelvis.

Basic diagnostic methods

Most often, this pathology is detected during the next preventive examination using ultrasound. To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe a computed tomography, radiography, or MRI. All these studies are necessary, since it is almost impossible to determine incomplete duplication of the kidney on a regular x-ray. In some cases, the doctor additionally recommends ascending urography using a contrast agent or cystoscopy.

What should be the treatment?

If an anomaly such as doubling of the right or left kidney appears in the body, it is recommended to regularly undergo preventive examinations by specialists (ultrasound examination, urine analysis). The doctor decides to prescribe treatment only if complications arise in the urinary system.

Surgical methods are used in the development of diseases that directly impair kidney function and cannot be treated (for example, hydronephrosis, tumors, urolithiasis). In case of serious complications that threaten the patient’s life, specialists also decide to remove the organ.

When kidney failure develops, hemodialysis and organ transplantation from a donor are usually performed.

If the “additional” kidney does not cause inconvenience to the patient, conservative treatment and regular monitoring of the patient’s condition are prescribed. In this case we are talking about symptomatic therapy. For inflammatory processes, antibiotics are prescribed, and for the formation of stones, analgesics and antispasmodics.

It is important to note that in each specific case only a doctor can prescribe medications. In no case is it recommended to self-medicate, as this can only aggravate the situation.

In addition, the doubling of a child’s kidney should alert parents. In this kind of situation, it will be impossible to do without qualified assistance from doctors.

If the patient has been diagnosed with this, there is no need to panic. Modern medicine offers various solutions to this problem. In addition to drug therapy, the patient must permanently give up bad habits and try to eat right. We will talk in more detail about preventive measures below.

Possible dangers

We have already identified the main symptoms for such a problem as doubling of the left kidney, but why is it dangerous? According to experts, this pathology in itself does not pose a threat to human health. However, it is prone to the development of many diseases, including nephroptosis, urolithiasis, and even tuberculosis. Thus, it becomes clear that such a problem is not worth starting; it is better to examine the body in a timely manner.

Preventive measures

The anatomy of the kidney is a rather interesting and at the same time difficult question that has always attracted scientists. Diseases and pathologies of this organ are not always treatable. This is why it is so important to know about preventative measures.

With this problem, experts strongly recommend that all future mothers avoid ionizing radiation in large quantities, try to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, and eat exclusively healthy foods. You should not take hormonal medications throughout your pregnancy. Compliance with the above measures significantly reduces the risk of developing a problem such as kidney duplication.

In general, it is recommended to pay special attention to your own nutrition throughout your life. First of all, it is necessary to limit the consumption of salty, fatty and bitter foods, since in this case there is no way to talk about the normal functioning of the organ. As soon as the kidney ceases to cope with the processing of fluid in large quantities, various types of anomalies begin to form.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted once again that the anatomy of the kidney and concomitant diseases are quite interesting issues that require comprehensive study. It is important to remember that duplication of this organ is not a disease. This is an anomaly that may not make itself felt throughout a person’s life. On the other hand, we should not forget that pathology in some cases provides the prerequisites for the development of very serious ailments.

Currently, incomplete doubling of the kidney is considered the most common form of pathological development of the organs of the urinary system. This disease, in fact, is not considered a disease and does not have its own symptoms, but it reveals a high tendency of the patient to damage the kidneys with chronic nephropathies.

With the development of incomplete doubling, there may be two options for the course of the pathology:

  1. The kidney receives its nutrition from one artery and has two pelvises.
  2. It has only one pelvis, but at the same time two arteries that exit the aorta separately.

Reasons for the development of incomplete duplication

Incomplete doubling of the left or right kidney develops due to the formation of two infectious foci at once in the metanephrogenic blastema. Complete separation of the blastema does not occur, even despite the appearance of two pyelocaliceal systems at once - this occurs due to the preservation of the capsular covering of the organ.

Each half of the pathological organ has its own blood supply. The vessels of this organ can exit in a common column - so the division is formed nearby, not far from or at the sinus itself, or they can extend directly from the aorta. Some arteries located inside are capable of passing from one kidney to another - this is very important to consider when performing organ resection.

Partial doubling is a type of organ doubling, which is characterized by the peculiarity of the structure and structure of the organ, when the doubling of blood vessels and renal parenchyma is carried out without bifurcation of the pelvis. It turns out that the renal sinus is divided by a bridge of parenchyma into two separate sections. Such division provokes an increase in the size of the organ.

This is important! As a rule, incomplete organ duplication is not at all dangerous and does not imply any clinical conclusion, unlike the development of full duplication. The only danger in this situation is the option in which the pyelocaliceal system, as well as the ureters, doubles. To make a correct diagnosis, excretory urography is required.

Clinical picture of the pathology

Incomplete doubling of both kidneys or one of them is manifested by doubling of the renal vessels and parenchyma, but is not accompanied by doubling of the pelvis. Usually the upper part of the affected organ is smaller than the lower part.

Usually, two ureters of the double kidney open at once with holes directly into the bladder; occasionally the ureter splits, which has one opening in the pelvic region and one trunk; in its upper part it splits and unites with the pelvis. The ureters are capable of splitting at various levels. If there are two ureteric openings on one side of the bladder, then the opening of the ureter of the pelvis located above is adjacent to the opening of the lower pelvis. Often the ureters intertwine along their path - usually once or twice.

At the site of the union of the two ureters, a narrowing is formed, which, at the site of their complete fusion, interferes with normal urodynamics, even if the anatomical patency of this section is maintained. The upper part of the right or left kidney is mainly affected, which slows down the continuous flow of fluid, therefore contributing to the development of hydronephrosis of the kidney and the formation of a chronic process of inflammation. If a pathological process does not develop in the double kidney, then no clinical symptoms are observed. In this regard, the disease is more often diagnosed by chance.

Symptoms of the development of pathology

Signs of incomplete duplication of the left or right kidney in children mainly consist of infection of the urinary canals - this process is considered an indication for a comprehensive examination.

A person diagnosed with incomplete duplication of the kidney can live a long life without complaints or health problems, and the pathology is detected by chance during an ultrasound examination. Duplication affecting the ureters is more often the cause of vesicoureteral reflux due to inadequate functioning of the closing functions of the orifices. Reflux usually occurs in the lower part of the bifurcated kidney. The mouth of the ureter in the upper part of the organ narrows, and this provokes the formation of a cyst, which flows into the lumen of the bladder and causes expansion of the ureter.

Diagnostic measures. Varieties and implementation

Typically, incomplete kidney duplication does not require special diagnostics. In this case, complete doubling is detected after the development of the inflammation process begins. Any doubling can be easily detected by x-ray or ultrasound.

The diagnosis of the lesion is established based on the results obtained after cystoscopy, excretory urography, and ultrasound. Excretory urography makes it possible to examine the functioning of each part of the double kidney, its anatomical and structural changes. Ultrasound and computed tomography play an important role in the diagnostic process.

This is important! When there are pronounced changes in one of the halves of the kidney and deterioration of its functions, retrograde pyelography is used.

Clinical studies indicate a high incidence of various pathologies on the side opposite to the side of the kidney duplication. When both kidneys are doubled at once, an acquired or congenital pathology is often diagnosed - dysplasia, hydronephrosis, etc.

The need and organization of treatment for incomplete duplication

Treatment of the disease primarily involves treatment of an acquired infectious process or pathology, such as urolithiasis or pyelonephritis. Incomplete doubling in itself is not a disease, but this pathology significantly increases the risk of developing the inflammation process. If the damage to the double kidney becomes chronic and difficult to treat, the doctor prescribes resection for the patient.

It is important to know that if a person has identified incomplete duplication of this organ, he is advised to start following a healthy lifestyle. It is imperative to prevent the influence of toxic factors on the body - for this you will need to give up drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking.

The doctor also reviews drug therapy, paying special attention to the diet. It is important to remember that the kidney will function properly until it becomes difficult due to poor nutrition and unfavorable living conditions.

It is imperative to organize events aimed at hardening the body, as well as gradually conduct physical training. In this way, a person can prevent many lesions and complications that are caused by kidney duplication. A specialist can help you form the right diet and lifestyle.

Kidney duplication is a congenital pathology, which in most cases is observed in girls and is often unilateral. The reasons for this phenomenon are very different. The duplication of the kidney begins to form and develop in the child while still in the womb.

Double kidneys. What is it?

The kidneys in the human body are a paired organ. They perform the function of removing toxins from the body. Everyone knows about this. But not everyone has heard that kidney doubling occurs. What is it? This is the division of an organ into two halves, fused together at the poles. Each part is equipped with its own blood supply system. Externally, such a kidney is much larger in size. The development of pathology occurs during intrauterine development.

Double kidneys in children are the most common congenital anomaly of the urinary system. An altered kidney does not pose a threat to human life, but is often the cause of other diseases.

The structure of the renal pelvis

This funnel-shaped structure is formed by the fusion of the major and minor calyces of the kidney. It is in the pelvis that urine accumulates. The surface of the inner part of the pelvis is covered with mucous membrane. In the wall of the pelvis there are fibers that perform peristaltic contractions, as a result of which urine flows down the urinary tract.

Due to the impermeability of the walls of the pelvis and ureters, the liquid with the substances dissolved in it never enters the peritoneal cavity, but always remains within the urinary system.

Complete kidney doubling

Sometimes a person is diagnosed with complete kidney duplication. What is it? This is an abnormal phenomenon when the kidney is divided into two parts by a groove. The upper and lower lobules are distinguished, and the upper one is most often underdeveloped and smaller in size. Each of them has its own artery and its own renal pelvis, which is usually underdeveloped in the upper half. They also have their own ureters. Each goes separately and ends in the bladder with its own mouth. It is possible that one ureter flows into another.

So, instead of one, there are two separate buds. In itself, complete doubling of the kidney does not bother a person, so there is no need to treat it. But it leads to other diseases.

Problems that arise when a kidney doubles

Often, some kind of disease may begin to develop in one half of the doubled organ. Complete doubling of the kidney can provoke pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, nephrosis, and polycystic disease. It happens that the mouth does not flow into the ureter, but into some other organ. It can be the rectum, cervix, vagina. In this case, a person may feel urine constantly leaking from the ureter.

Incomplete bud duplication

This pathology is observed when a person develops one large kidney with clearly defined upper and lower sections. Each of them has its own renal artery. N, each part of the doubled organ does not have its own pyelocaliceal system; they have one for two sections. There are two ureters, but they are connected to each other and flow into the bladder with a single trunk, like one.

In medical practice, cases have been recorded where incomplete doubling of the left kidney is more often observed, rather than the right. Most people with this anomaly live until old age, unaware of its existence. Incomplete doubling of the kidney does not cause inflammatory processes in the organ.

Causes of kidney duplication

If the pathology does not manifest itself in any way, which happens when a person has incomplete duplication of the left kidney or the right one, it doesn’t matter, you may not even know about the abnormal development of this organ. It is discovered by chance, during an ultrasound examination of some other organ located next to the kidney. Doctors often diagnose a double kidney in a newborn child. The reasons for this phenomenon can be very different. Let's look at some of them:

  • Radioactive exposure of the fetus in the womb, if her work activity during the entire period of pregnancy takes place at an enterprise whose production cycle is associated with radiation.
  • The predisposition is inherited if one or both parents have a double kidney. What it is is described above in this article.
  • Poisoning with drugs during pregnancy, including hormonal drugs.
  • Presence of bad habits in a pregnant woman: abuse of alcohol, drugs, etc.
  • Vitamin deficiency occurs frequently and regularly during pregnancy. There are many places on our planet where vegetables and fruits do not grow due to harsh climatic conditions. But women live and give birth to children there too. So the expectant mother suffers from a lack of vitamins and minerals. It’s good if everything works out and the child does not have a disease such as kidney duplication. Of course, there may be other reasons, but this one can be ruled out for the sake of the health of the unborn baby.

Diagnostics

If no examination was carried out when the person was a child, kidney duplication is diagnosed, as a rule, after an inflammatory disease of the organ begins or accidentally, during a preventive examination using diagnostic devices. First you need to do an ultrasound examination. If this is not enough, the doctor prescribes other methods.

When a person does not have pathology, there are only two ureteric orifices in his body: one for each kidney. If the doctor suspects kidney duplication, the patient is prescribed a cystoscopy. With its help, it is determined how many orifices the ureter has: if there are three, then the diagnosis of “double kidney” is confirmed. To determine the size of the enlarged kidney and identify the presence or absence of the third calyceal pelvis and additional ureter, the doctor prescribes excretory urography.

Kidney duplication does not manifest itself in any way. It does not need to be treated until it causes some other disease in this organ. Signs of kidney duplication vary. Typically, inflammatory processes are characterized by:

  • Increasing temperature.
  • Weakness and swelling.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Regular headaches.
  • Increased pressure.
  • Cloudy urine.
  • Reverse flow of urine.
  • Discomfort and pain in the lumbar region.
  • Urinary incontinence.
  • Unpleasant sensations when urinating.
  • Renal colic.
  • The occurrence of infection in the urinary canal.

Whether all signs appear at once or each one separately will depend on the disease.

Kidney duplication is characterized by complete or incomplete division of the organ into two parts. If it doesn't bother the person, nothing needs to be done. It is enough to lead a healthy lifestyle and undergo regular preventive examinations. This pathology provokes inflammatory processes in the kidney when it completely doubles. Even in this case, there is no point in doing a complex operation to correct the defect. It may not cause trouble to a person throughout his life.

Therapeutic treatment is usually used when diagnosing some serious disease, for example, pyelonephritis, if it was caused by this anomaly. When the disease becomes chronic and cannot be treated using conservative methods, then they resort to surgical intervention, which is aimed at correcting the cause that caused the complication. But they always try to save the kidney. It is removed only when it has completely lost its functionality.

Prevention

If during the examination a doubling of the kidney is discovered, there is no need to panic. This diagnosis is not fatal. When the pathology of an organ does not bother you, it will not affect a person’s quality of life in any way. You need to take a closer look at your health:

  • Give up bad habits, if any: stop drinking, smoking, taking drugs.
  • Change your job if it involves toxic chemicals.
  • Urgently switch to a properly balanced diet.
  • Strictly monitor the work and rest schedule.

If one of your relatives experiences a doubling of the kidney, what it is is known to the whole family. Therefore, when a woman from your family is bearing a child, you need to treat this period with double attention. The child in the womb must develop, receiving the necessary vitamins. A woman is obliged to take care of her health and not take alcohol, drugs, or medications that can cause poisoning to the child.

Kidney duplication is a congenital pathology, which is characterized by complete or partial duplication of the main organ of the urinary system - the kidneys. A similar anomaly occurs in 10% of cases from other diseases of the urinary system. In nephrology, kidney duplication is not considered a separate disease, but in advanced cases, persistent dysfunctions in the functioning of the urinary organs can develop. The pathology was recorded in ICD-10 with the assignment of code Q63–8 “Other congenital anomalies of the kidney.”

General information

The abnormal structure of the kidneys begins in the prenatal period. According to statistics, one out of 150 newborns has a double organ. Girls are at risk for developing the disease; in boys, the diagnosis is confirmed 2 times less often. Duplication on one side occurs in 89% of cases, and for unclear reasons, duplication of the right kidney is more often diagnosed. Anomaly on both sides occurs in 11% of cases.

Visually, the duplicated organ differs from a healthy one and looks like two kidneys fused at the poles, each with its own blood supply. Despite its irregular structure, the doubled organ performs the main functions of cleansing the blood and removing harmful substances from the body.

Classification

In addition to one- and two-sided doubling, pathology is classified according to forms:

  • complete doubling is a type of abnormal kidney in which the organ is presented in the form of 2 independent structures connected into one whole; from an anatomical point of view, the structure of the kidney with complete doubling is organized as in 2 separate organs - both elements have their own blood supply system, characterized by the presence of doubling of the renal system of the kidney (pyelocaliceal system);
  • incomplete doubling of the kidney is a type of anomaly when one renal element is integrated into the tissue of another; a characteristic feature of this form is associated with the presence of a single CLS; with incomplete doubling, the organ greatly increases in size; Incomplete duplication of the left kidney is more often diagnosed.

In medicine, there is no accurate information about the causes of the disease. The hereditary factor is of no small importance - if one of the parents or other close relatives is diagnosed, the likelihood of an anomaly increases. Another significant reason is associated with the impact on the female body during pregnancy of negative factors in the form of:

  • ionizing radiation;
  • working in hazardous conditions;
  • past bacterial and viral infections;
  • drug intoxication, poisoning;
  • taking hormonal medications;
  • intake of alcohol and nicotine;
  • severe forms of hypovitaminosis.

As a result, two foci of kidney growth appear in the developing embryo, and conditions are created for the development of two buds. Complete separation of the CL does not occur; the doubled kidney is covered with a common fibrous layer. Occasionally, in an abnormal organ, vessels intertwine, penetrating from one element to another, which complicates the possibility of performing operations in the future.

People with double kidneys usually do not have negative symptoms. Confirmation of the diagnosis occurs by chance, during examination for other diseases. Negative symptoms become clinically significant only when complications occur. With complete doubling, complications are more serious than with incomplete doubling. In both cases, over a long period of time, anomalies arise:

  • frequent, recurrent inflammatory processes;
  • hydronephrosis - a condition in which the renal pelvis dilates and urine excretion is impaired;
  • backflow of urine from the ureters.

Additionally, the presence of an anomaly may be indicated by:

  • aching pain in the lumbar area;
  • pain when tapping the lower back;
  • rise in temperature;
  • attacks of renal colic;
  • difficulty urinating;
  • urinary incontinence;
  • weakness;
  • increased blood pressure;
  • swelling of the face and limbs.

Survey tactics

To confirm the diagnosis, instrumental studies are organized:

  • echography with color Doppler mapping is a method that allows you to identify the presence and assess the condition of independent CLS;
  • cystoscopy - necessary to visualize the orifices of the ureters, their number and location;
  • excretory urography is a method that allows you to assess the condition of the ureters, the presence of dilations and doublings of the urinary tract;
  • MRI will allow you to reliably examine the pyelocalyceal system in a three-dimensional projection.

Laboratory diagnostics are carried out to identify inflammatory processes in the urinary organs and evaluate the effectiveness of their work. For this use:

  • general urinalysis;
  • bacteriological culture;
  • biochemical blood test with determination of the concentration of creatinine, urea, albumin, uric acid, ions (potassium, chlorine, sodium);
  • smear from the urethra for bacterial analysis.

There are no specific methods for treating the pathology. But patients with organ duplication are subject to systematic observation and examination to monitor the functioning of the renal system. For preventive purposes, diuretics and herbal medicines are prescribed. If complications develop, therapy is symptomatic:

  • taking broad-spectrum antibiotics;
  • antispasmodic and painkillers;
  • balanced diet with limited salt and fat;
  • taking special kidney teas.

Surgical intervention for anomalies of the renal system is carried out for a number of indications:

  • chronic recurrent pyelonephritis;
  • vesico-ureteral reflux;
  • functional or anatomical destruction of an organ and its segments.

Types of surgical interventions:

  • nephrectomy - excision of the affected renal segments; if complications arise in the form of a tumor and it is impossible to separate the kidneys, a complete nephrectomy is performed;
  • antireflux surgery - creation of artificial lumens for the free flow of urine;
  • excision of ureterocele with interrupted sutures and suturing of the ureters to the walls of the bladder;
  • Kidney transplantation and hemodialysis are indicated in the event of acute kidney failure due to doubling.

The course of pregnancy with pathology

A woman with a double kidney can become a mother - the pathology is not a contraindication to pregnancy. The only contraindication is considered to be a severe course of the anomaly with the need for surgical intervention, or renal failure that has arisen against the background of doubling. Preparation for pregnancy should be thorough, with a comprehensive examination and treatment (if necessary) of detected foci of infection.

A possible risk for a pregnant woman is associated with compression of the abnormal kidney by the growing uterus and disruption of its filtering ability. Therefore, throughout the entire gestation period, a woman should be observed not only by a gynecologist and therapist, but also by a nephrologist (at least once every 2 months). If complications occur in the renal system, the pregnant woman must be hospitalized in the urology department to correct the condition.

Preventive measures

There are no specific preventive measures, which is associated with the mechanism of formation of the anomaly at the genetic level. A responsible approach to pregnancy planning and a healthy lifestyle for the expectant mother can reduce the likelihood of developing pathology. Proper nutrition, taking multivitamin complexes, and following medical recommendations allows you to maintain your own health and ensure adequate formation of organs in the fetus.

Persons with a confirmed diagnosis of kidney duplication should follow basic preventive measures:

  • optimal drinking regimen, no more than 1.5 liters of liquid per day;
  • rational nutrition with limitation of salty, bitter, spicy foods;
  • moderate physical activity;
  • hardening;
  • avoiding hypothermia.

If an abnormality of the heart rate is detected, an adult should stop drinking alcohol and smoking - alcohol and nicotine negatively affect the renal system, undermining its function.

Kidney duplication is an anomaly in which negative manifestations may be absent throughout life. It is important to understand that an illness can become a prerequisite for the development of other, more serious diseases. With a responsible attitude to health, the life expectancy of persons with a double kidney is identical to that of healthy people.

Sometimes doctors observe kidney doubling, which is diagnosed in the fetus during intrauterine development. If there is a violation, an anomaly occurs in the development of the pyelocaliceal system, resulting in complete or partial division of the kidney. Moreover, each lobe of the organ has its own blood supply system. More often, pathology of one kidney is diagnosed, less often two are affected. Such an abnormal structure of the internal organ can threaten impaired urinary function. When doubling, therapeutic measures aimed at eliminating secondary infections are required. In particularly difficult situations, surgical procedures are prescribed.

Kidney duplication is a congenital pathology that can slightly or significantly affect the functionality of the organ.

What structure do healthy kidneys have?

The kidneys are a paired organ that is divided into two lobules. There is adipose and connective tissue around the organ, which prevents injury and damage. and the gate is located in the concave part of the organ. Also, 2 ureters depart from each kidney, through which urine enters the bladder. The lobes of both kidneys are separated by blood vessels. If for some reason anomalies occur during intrauterine development, then a doubling of the child’s kidney is noted. Doubling also often occurs.

It occurs in humans for various reasons that are congenital in nature. The splitting of a healthy organ occurs during intrauterine development. The doubling of an organ on one or both sides is influenced by the following negative sources:


Kidney duplication occurs in utero under the influence of hormones, radiation, and genetic abnormalities.
  • hormonal therapy during pregnancy;
  • lack of vitamins and minerals during intrauterine development;
  • ionizing radiation;
  • drug intoxication;
  • smoking and drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Extra kidneys in children can occur if at least one of the parents suffered from such an illness. In this case, complete or incomplete doubling of the kidney on the right or left side is possible. According to statistics, renal twinning is more often recorded in representatives of the fairer sex. Doctors have not been able to fully figure out why women are more likely to suffer from doubling.

What happens when a full doubling occurs?

With complete doubling, two organs are formed at once. In rare cases, pathology is observed on both sides. Each double kidney has its own pelvicalyceal system. Sometimes one of the emergency response systems is not fully developed. Complete duplication of the kidney does not require surgical therapy, provided that the urinary process is not impaired. With such an anomaly, it is important to carefully monitor your health and be regularly examined by a nephrologist.

Incomplete doubling: the essence of the problem

Often, incompletely doubled buds are diagnosed, in which case incomplete doubling is noted. The disorder is characterized by the presence of one ureter through which urine exits into the bladder. In rare cases, doctors observe the entry of the ureter of the double kidney into the vagina or intestines. With this disorder, urine may exit through the posterior opening or leak through the vagina.

Incomplete doubling of the kidney is more common, but this problem is in no way inferior to complete doubling.

Incomplete duplication of the left kidney is diagnosed much more often, while in the process of intrauterine development 2 rudiments of metanephrogenic blastoma are formed, which soon form 2 internal urinary organs.

The following morphology of incomplete organ duplication is distinguished:

  • preservation of the joint capsule of daughter neoplasms;
  • supplying each half of the organ with its own circulatory system;
  • separation of the renal arteries in the renal sinus or the vessels arise directly from the aorta.

What are the dangers of a double kidney?

Doubling the kidney on the right or left side entails negative consequences. Complications are most likely to develop with incomplete doubling, since in this case urodynamics are significantly impaired. Patients with duplication of the right or left kidney suffer from the following complications:

  • inflammatory process in a paired organ;
  • stone formation;
  • hydronephrosis;
  • tuberculosis lesions;
  • nephroptosis;
  • malignant or benign neoplasms.

If the patient also has vesicoureteral reflux, then the likelihood of an inflammatory reaction against the background of doubling increases significantly. Complications can progress over many years, disrupting the function of many systems in the body. Such disorders are difficult to respond to therapeutic measures and often bring only short-term results.

What signs indicate illness?

If complete bifurcation is noted, then the signs, as a rule, are absent or do not appear clearly enough. When the ureter is removed into the vaginal area, the patient exhibits signs of a different nature. Urine leakage is often seen, which occurs in adults and children. Doubling can be detected by the following pathological signs:

  • swelling of the limbs and face;
  • general weakness;
  • pain in the lower back;
  • cloudy urine;
  • high temperature and pressure;
  • pain when passing urine;
  • feeling of nausea and vomiting;
  • renal colic.

What to do?

Importance of diagnosis


Kidney duplication is clearly diagnosed by hardware examination.

It is almost impossible to identify a bifurcated kidney on your own, even if the patient’s urinary process is disrupted, this can be mistaken for an inflammatory process in the organ, and not an abnormal structure. To detect pathology, you need to consult a doctor and conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. Most often, doubling is accidentally detected on ultrasound during examination of other organs. When diagnosing, the following diagnostic methods are used, given in the table.

With the help of complex diagnostics, it is possible to identify organ growth, determine secondary pathologies and the degree of disorder. Diagnostics also allows you to select the most accurate therapy.

Currently, incomplete doubling of the kidney is considered the most common form of pathological development of the organs of the urinary system. This disease, in fact, is not considered a disease and does not have its own symptoms, but it reveals a high tendency of the patient to damage the kidneys with chronic nephropathies.

With the development of incomplete doubling, there may be two options for the course of the pathology:

  1. The kidney receives its nutrition from one artery and has two pelvises.
  2. It has only one pelvis, but at the same time two arteries that exit the aorta separately.

Incomplete doubling of the left or right kidney develops due to the formation of two infectious foci at once in the metanephrogenic blastema. Complete separation of the blastema does not occur, even despite the appearance of two pyelocaliceal systems at once - this occurs due to the preservation of the capsular covering of the organ.

Each half of the pathological organ has its own blood supply. The vessels of this organ can exit in a common column - so the division is formed nearby, not far from or at the sinus itself, or they can extend directly from the aorta. Some arteries located inside are capable of passing from one kidney to another - this is very important to consider when performing organ resection.

Partial doubling is a type of organ doubling, which is characterized by the peculiarity of the structure and structure of the organ, when the doubling of blood vessels and renal parenchyma is carried out without bifurcation of the pelvis. It turns out that the renal sinus is divided by a bridge of parenchyma into two separate sections. Such division provokes an increase in the size of the organ.

This is important! As a rule, incomplete organ duplication is not at all dangerous and does not imply any clinical conclusion, unlike the development of full duplication. The only danger in this situation is the option in which the pyelocaliceal system, as well as the ureters, doubles. To make a correct diagnosis, excretory urography is required.

Incomplete doubling of both kidneys or one of them is manifested by doubling of the renal vessels and parenchyma, but is not accompanied by doubling of the pelvis. Usually the upper part of the affected organ is smaller than the lower part.

Usually, two ureters of the double kidney open at once with holes directly into the bladder; occasionally the ureter splits, which has one opening in the pelvic region and one trunk; in its upper part it splits and unites with the pelvis. The ureters are capable of splitting at various levels. If there are two ureteric openings on one side of the bladder, then the opening of the ureter of the pelvis located above is adjacent to the opening of the lower pelvis. Often the ureters intertwine along their path - usually once or twice.

At the site of the union of the two ureters, a narrowing is formed, which, at the site of their complete fusion, interferes with normal urodynamics, even if the anatomical patency of this section is maintained. The upper part of the right or left kidney is mainly affected, which slows down the continuous flow of fluid, therefore contributing to the development of hydronephrosis of the kidney and the formation of a chronic process of inflammation. If a pathological process does not develop in the double kidney, then no clinical symptoms are observed. In this regard, the disease is more often diagnosed by chance.

Signs of incomplete duplication of the left or right kidney in children mainly consist of infection of the urinary canals - this process is considered an indication for a comprehensive examination.

A person diagnosed with incomplete duplication of the kidney can live a long life without complaints or health problems, and the pathology is detected by chance during an ultrasound examination. Duplication affecting the ureters is more often the cause of vesicoureteral reflux due to inadequate functioning of the closing functions of the orifices. Reflux usually occurs in the lower part of the bifurcated kidney. The mouth of the ureter in the upper part of the organ narrows, and this provokes the formation of a cyst, which flows into the lumen of the bladder and causes expansion of the ureter.

Typically, incomplete kidney duplication does not require special diagnostics. In this case, complete doubling is detected after the development of the inflammation process begins. Any doubling can be easily detected by x-ray or ultrasound.

The diagnosis of the lesion is established based on the results obtained after cystoscopy, excretory urography, and ultrasound. Excretory urography makes it possible to examine the functioning of each part of the double kidney, its anatomical and structural changes. Ultrasound and computed tomography play an important role in the diagnostic process.

This is important! When there are pronounced changes in one of the halves of the kidney and deterioration of its functions, retrograde pyelography is used.

Clinical studies indicate a high incidence of various pathologies on the side opposite to the side of the kidney duplication. When both kidneys are doubled at once, an acquired or congenital pathology is often diagnosed - dysplasia, hydronephrosis, etc.

Treatment of the disease primarily involves treatment of an acquired infectious process or pathology, such as urolithiasis or pyelonephritis. Incomplete doubling in itself is not a disease, but this pathology significantly increases the risk of developing the inflammation process. If the damage to the double kidney becomes chronic and difficult to treat, the doctor prescribes resection for the patient.

It is important to know that if a person has identified incomplete duplication of this organ, he is advised to start following a healthy lifestyle. It is imperative to prevent the influence of toxic factors on the body - for this you will need to give up drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking.

The doctor also reviews drug therapy, paying special attention to the diet. It is important to remember that the kidney will function properly until it becomes difficult due to poor nutrition and unfavorable living conditions.

It is imperative to organize events aimed at hardening the body, as well as gradually conduct physical training. In this way, a person can prevent many lesions and complications that are caused by kidney duplication. A specialist can help you form the right diet and lifestyle.

Duplication of the kidney is one of the most common congenital anomalies of the structure of the urinary system, in which the altered kidney has the appearance of a doubled organ. They seem to be connected together, and each of them has its own parenchyma and blood supply through two renal arteries, and the more functionally significant and developed organ in most cases is the lower lobe of the formation.

In this article we will introduce you to the causes, signs, differences, methods of diagnosis and treatment of complete and incomplete kidney duplication. This information will help you get an idea of ​​this malformation of the urinary system, and you will be able to ask your doctor any questions you may have.

When the kidney is bifurcated, the blood supply and parenchyma of the anomaly are always bifurcated, but the ureter and renal pelvis are not always doubled. The accessory ureter that occurs with this malformation can enter the bladder, connecting to the main one, or has an independent “gate” into the bladder cavity. This change in the structure of the urinary tract at the junction of the two ureters is accompanied by a narrowing, which causes difficulty in the outflow of urine and its reverse reflux into the pelvis. Subsequently, such functional disorders contribute to the development of hydronephrosis.

Kidney duplication can be complete or incomplete, unilateral or bilateral. According to statistics, the frequency of such a malformation of the urinary system is 10.4%. This kidney anomaly is detected 2 times more often in girls and is usually unilateral (approximately 82-89% of cases). In itself, it does not pose a threat to health, but its presence often contributes to the development of various kidney diseases.

Most often, this developmental anomaly is provoked by genetic causes and is detected in children at an early age. The defect can have various morphological configurations, and only a detailed diagnosis allows you to choose the right tactics for its treatment.

With incomplete duplication of the kidney, each of the ureters of the bifurcated organ does not flow into the bladder separately. They unite and enter the bladder cavity through a common duct. This type of kidney duplication is more common. Both the right and left kidneys may not double completely equally often. In this case, the following morphological structure of the changed organ is observed:

  • both daughter formations have a common capsule;
  • the pyelocaliceal system does not double, but functions as a single one;
  • bifurcation of the renal arteries occurs in the region of the renal sinus or these two arteries arise directly from the aorta;
  • each part of the duplicated kidney has its own blood supply.

In some cases, a person with an incompletely bifurcated kidney may not feel the anomaly present all his life, and the pathology is detected by chance during diagnosis for other diseases.


With complete doubling of the bud, two daughter formations are formed. Each of these organs has its own ureter and pyelocaliceal system. One of these kidneys may have an underdeveloped pelvis, and its ureter may not flow into the bladder at a physiological level.

With complete bifurcation of the kidney, each of the resulting organs is capable of filtering urine, but the resulting functional disorders often lead to the development of various diseases of the urinary organs:

  • hydronephrosis;
  • pyelonephritis;
  • urolithiasis;
  • nephroptosis;
  • tuberculosis;
  • kidney tumors.

Sometimes complete doubling of the kidney is accompanied by the appearance of an atypical morphological configuration, in which the ureter formed in the daughter kidney does not join together with the main one and does not flow into the bladder, but opens into the intestinal lumen or vagina. In such cases, the baby will leak urine from the rectum or vagina.

The main reason for the doubling of the kidney lies in the formation of two foci of induction of differentiation in the metanephrogenic blastoma. This violation occurs during intrauterine development. Most often, such pathological changes occur due to the transmission of a mutated gene from parents or under the influence of teratogenic factors affecting the body of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

The following reasons affecting the body of the expectant mother can contribute to the doubling of the kidney:

  • ionizing radiation;
  • vitamin deficiency and mineral deficiency during pregnancy;
  • taking hormonal drugs during pregnancy;
  • viral and bacterial infections suffered during pregnancy;
  • poisoning with nephrotoxic drugs or toxic substances;
  • active and passive smoking, drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

In most cases, kidney duplication is completely asymptomatic for a long time or is detected by chance during routine examinations or during the diagnosis of other diseases.

Often pathology manifests itself only after its complications occur. One of the most common consequences of kidney duplication in children is urinary tract infection. In addition, narrowing of the ureters at their confluence can lead to circulatory disorders, deterioration of urine outflow and reverse reflux. Subsequently, such changes can provoke the development of hydronephrosis.

With complete doubling of the kidney, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

  • signs of infection of the urinary organs (frequent urination, fever, pain and discomfort when urinating, pus in the urine, etc.);
  • swelling of the limbs;
  • pain in the lumbar region (from the side of the double kidney);
  • positive Pasternatsky symptom;
  • expansion of the upper parts of the urinary system;
  • reflux of urine from the ureters;
  • the appearance of renal colic (with the development of urolithiasis);
  • increased blood pressure;
  • leakage of urine (if the ureter enters the intestines or vagina).

The likelihood of occurrence of certain symptoms from the above-described signs of kidney duplication is variable and depends on the form of the anomaly.

A woman with a double kidney should plan to conceive a child in advance. To do this, she needs to undergo a full diagnostic examination: urine and blood tests, ultrasound and, if necessary, other instrumental studies. After analyzing the data obtained, the doctor will be able to determine the possibility of planning conception. Pregnancy with this pathology is contraindicated if renal failure is detected and there are indications for surgical treatment.

If during the examination no contraindications for conceiving a child are identified, then after pregnancy the woman should be observed by a general practitioner and a urologist. If any complications are detected, she will be indicated for hospitalization in the urology department for treatment of emerging complications. As clinical observations show, in most cases, kidney duplication in a pregnant woman rarely leads to severe complications. As a rule, doctors are only able to control blood pressure, eliminate swelling and other consequences of this anomaly using conservative treatment methods.


Kidney duplication in the fetus can be detected by ultrasound at 25 weeks of pregnancy.

Typically, signs of kidney duplication are detected by an ultrasound diagnostic doctor when examining a patient for pyelonephritis or urolithiasis. If such an anomaly is suspected, the patient is recommended to undergo the following additional studies:

  • radiography (overview image);
  • ascending and excretory urography;
  • radioisotope scanning;
  • cystoscopy.

In addition to instrumental examination methods, laboratory tests of blood and urine are prescribed.

If kidney duplication proceeds without complications, then the patient is recommended to undergo clinical observation by a urologist. He will need to undergo periodic kidney ultrasound and urine tests at least once a year. To prevent complications, the following doctor’s recommendations must be followed:

  • avoid hypothermia;
  • minimize the consumption of salty foods and foods rich in fatty acids;
  • observe the rules of personal and sexual hygiene to prevent infectious diseases.

Drug treatment for kidney duplication is prescribed to patients in whom this anomaly has led to the development of pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis or urolithiasis. The symptomatic treatment plan may include the following:

  • antibiotics;
  • antispasmodics;
  • painkillers;
  • anti-inflammatory and diuretic herbal teas;
  • following a diet to prevent urolithiasis.

Surgical treatment for kidney duplication is prescribed only in cases where the complications that arise cannot be eliminated with conservative therapy and lead to severe disruption of the functioning of the urinary system. The following conditions may be indications for its implementation:

  • urolithiasis that is not amenable to conservative therapy;
  • vesicoureteral reflux;
  • severe forms of hydronephrosis;
  • urethrocele (dilation of the urethra with the formation of a cavity).

In some cases, kidney duplication leads to the development of urolithiasis, the manifestations of which cannot be eliminated by therapeutic measures. If the stone very often bothers the patient, then instrumental or surgical techniques are used to remove it. Sometimes the removal of urinary stones can be carried out by crushing them with electromagnetic waves (using the method of remote lithotripsy). However, this method of breaking stones is not always possible. Some large stones can only be removed through surgery.

Ureteral stones can be removed after crushing through a cystoscope. If such an endoscopic procedure is ineffective, then removal of the stone is carried out after surgical opening of the bladder.

In severe forms of hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux, the following types of interventions can be performed:

  • heminephrectomy or nephrectomy - removal of one or more segments of the kidney;
  • application of ureterouretero- or pyelopyeloanastomosis - creation of anastomoses to eliminate the reverse reflux of urine;
  • Tunnelization of the ureters is an antireflux intervention aimed at creating a lumen for the normal passage of urine.

Surgical operations are performed only if it is impossible to eliminate the consequences of hydronephrosis. In case of severe renal impairment, dialysis is recommended for the patient. If the kidney can no longer cope with urine filtration, the patient is prescribed a nephrectomy. Subsequently, the patient may undergo a kidney transplant from a donor.

If there is an abnormal flow of the ureter into the intestine or vagina, a corrective operation is performed to restore the normal flow of the ureter into the bladder cavity.

If a urethrocele occurs, the following types of operations can be performed to excise it:

  • ureterocystoneostomy – removal of the urethrocele and creation of a new ureteral orifice;
  • Transurethral dissection is an endoscopic operation to remove a urethrocele.

The purpose of such interventions is aimed at suturing the ureter into the intact wall of the bladder.

If kidney duplication is detected, the patient is recommended to be monitored by a urologist. Ultrasound and urine tests will be performed to monitor the kidney abnormality. To clarify the clinical picture of the pathology in more detail, the following methods for studying the urinary system are prescribed:

  • excretory and ascending urography;
  • cystoscopy;
  • radioisotope scanning;
  • MRI, etc.

Incomplete and complete duplication of the kidney in many cases does not pose a health risk and is often detected by chance during a preventive ultrasound examination of the kidneys or during examination for other diseases. In the absence of any symptoms, such a defect does not require treatment and only requires clinical observation. In some cases, this anomaly of the urinary system leads to the development of complications: pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux and urolithiasis. If such consequences of kidney pathology occur, the decision on the need for conservative or surgical treatment is determined by the doctor. As a rule, kidney duplication has a favorable prognosis and rarely requires surgery to remove and transplant the organ.

An ultrasound diagnostic doctor talks about kidney doubling:

Ultrasound of the kidneys (double kidney)

March 17, 2017 Doctor

Double kidney is the most common type of urinary tract anomaly. Such an anomaly is not a pathology; as a rule, its presence does not cause a person any particular inconvenience, but the doubling of an organ is dangerous with the risk of developing other more serious diseases.

According to external characteristics, the pathology represents two internal organs fused together. In this case, the duplication of the vascular and parenchymal parts does not always occur; most often, its lower part is functional. Duplication can be unilateral or bilateral, complete or incomplete - all this is a conditional division, which is associated with the presence of its own vessels, as well as the ureter in the daughter kidney.

With complete doubling of the internal organ, each of the daughter kidneys is equipped with its own pyelocaliceal system, as well as a ureter, which opens the way to the bladder. When incomplete, the ureters merge into one, which opens a “passage” to the bladder. It often happens that the daughter ureter does not merge with the main one, but it opens in the intestine or vagina. If the latter anomaly occurs, then the person will be found to have urine leakage.

Most often, the anomaly develops in the prenatal period, when the embryo is actively developing inside the mother. Medical statistics indicate that girls are more susceptible to this anomaly, and out of every 150 newborns, one of them is diagnosed with pathology. In most cases, duplication of only one kidney is observed (82%), but bilateral duplication also occurs (12%).

The main reasons may be:

  • Genetics;
  • Taking potent hormonal drugs by a pregnant woman (especially in the 1st trimester);
  • Exposure of a pregnant woman to ionizing radiation;
  • Lack of vital vitamin or mineral components in a woman’s body during pregnancy;
  • Avitaminosis;
  • Poisoning of the body with potent drugs;
  • Abuse of alcoholic beverages;
  • Smoking during pregnancy.

Incomplete kidney duplication does not pose a particular threat to humans. It even happens that a person lives his whole life with a congenital anomaly and is completely unaware of its presence, and it is discovered only during a medical examination of a completely different disease.

Complete doubling of the kidney is dangerous due to its possible complications, among which we can highlight:

  • Pyelonephritis is an inflammatory process of the urinary tract with damage to the pelvis, cups and renal parenchyma;
  • Hydronephrosis is a violation of the process of urine outflow, in which urine is retained and accumulates in the renal pelvis;
  • Urolithiasis is the process of formation of sand and stones in the organs of the urinary system;
  • Tuberculosis;
  • Kidney neoplasm;

Types of kidney duplication

As mentioned above, the anomaly can be complete or incomplete.

  1. Complete - instead of one internal organ, two are formed, each of which has an underdeveloped pelvis. Each of the pelvis is equipped with its own ureter, which flows into the bladder at a different level.
  2. Incomplete doubling of an internal organ - in medical practice, this anomaly is more common than the one described above. The anomaly can appear on both the left and right kidneys, while an enlargement of the internal organ is clearly observed, its upper and lower parts are clearly visible, each of which is equipped with its own artery. During the development of the anomaly, the pyelocaliceal system continues to remain unified.

In addition, the anomaly can appear on either the left or right kidney.

  • On the left kidney - it does not pose a serious danger to humans, the anomaly does not have negative symptoms and is often discovered during a random medical examination;
  • On the right kidney, the anomaly also does not pose a serious threat to humans; during the process of formation, the internal organ takes on an increased size.

Symptoms

It is important to note that the characteristic signs of the anomaly appear only with complete doubling of the internal organ and appear in the form of:

  • Dilatations of the upper urinary tract;
  • The occurrence of infections in the urinary canal;
  • The appearance of the process of reverse outflow of urine from the ureter;
  • Manifestations of pain in the lumbar region from the side where the anomaly occurs;
  • Increased body temperature;
  • General weakness;
  • The appearance of a cloudy shade in the urine;
  • Increased blood pressure;
  • Painful process of urination;
  • Urinary incontinence.

These signs can appear both together and separately. The activity of symptoms directly depends on the form of the disease and the general condition of the human body.

Diagnostics

In order to clinically determine the duplication of the kidneys on both sides, the patient should undergo the following examinations:

  • Cystoscopy;
  • Ascending urography;
  • Radiography;
  • Magnetic resonance urography.

Treatment

An anomaly of both kidneys does not pose a serious danger to humans, but it can be accompanied by unpleasant complications, which is why it is necessary to recognize the disease in a timely manner and, if necessary, begin the required treatment.

If the anomaly does not bother a person, then drug therapy is not required. In this case, constant monitoring by a doctor is important. Treatment of internal organ duplication must be carried out if complications occur.

  1. When an inflammatory process occurs, a course of taking anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as antibacterial agents, is indicated;
  2. For urolithiasis, antispasmodics, painkillers and phototherapy (kidney collection, decoctions of medicinal herbs) are prescribed.

Surgery is indicated in severe stages of hydronephrosis, as well as in the presence of diseases that are not amenable to drug therapy. If possible, surgeons try to preserve the internal organ. A kidney is removed only if it loses its functionality.

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One way or another, when a double kidney is detected, a person must follow the most important basics that will help maintain his health and not provoke possible complications:

  • Lead a healthy lifestyle;
  • Give up bad habits;
  • Monitor the quality of food;
  • Be more careful and careful when taking certain medications;
  • Do hardening;
  • Do light exercise.

To summarize all of the above, it can be determined that kidney duplication is not a pathology; such an abnormal condition does not pose a threat to human health. A common question among young people is whether they are accepted into the army with this diagnosis? In answering this problem, it is necessary to determine that kidney duplication, not complicated by the presence of another pathology, is not an obstacle to enrollment in the ranks of conscripts.

But if the pathology is diagnosed in a woman, then she needs to plan her pregnancy in advance. Throughout the entire pregnancy, she must be observed by a doctor, regularly undergo prescribed examinations - urine and blood tests, ultrasound of the kidneys, urine testing according to Nichiporenko. Pregnancy is strictly contraindicated in women with renal failure and in the presence of clear indications for surgery.

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The kidneys are a paired organ; there are cases when a person has one single congenital kidney. What is kidney doubling? Is this anomaly common, and what are its symptoms?

One of the most common anomalies of the urinary system is a double kidney. Usually only one of the kidneys doubles, its size begins to exceed the size of a normal human organ, and it is often divided into lobules. Usually, the upper and lower lobes of the duplicated organ are distinguished, which are separated by a parenchymal septum. The lower half is usually larger than the upper half. Although these two lobes form one whole, albeit double, each of these parts has a separate ureter. They each pass separately and end at their own mouth in the bladder itself. Sometimes one of the ureteral canals flows into another canal. Because of this, two independent buds are obtained, instead of one.

In case of incomplete doubling, there is only one pyelocaliceal (cavitary) system for the larger portion of the doubled kidney. Even in a bifurcated kidney, lobulation may be visible, and blood enters it through 2 separate renal arteries, although during normal development the blood flow is carried out through one renal artery.

This bifurcation of the kidney in a child is the most common congenital abnormality of the urinary system. Although this anomaly is not life-threatening, it is often the root cause of many other diseases. In general, duplication of this organ is one of the most common diagnoses of kidney anomalies - 10.4%. According to statistics, it occurs 2 times more often in women than in men. It can be unilateral - 89% of cases or bilateral - 11%.

Diagnosis of anomaly

Could it be that such a deviation from the norm will go unnoticed in an adult? If no examination has been carried out on a newborn, then doubling in adults is diagnosed, as a rule, only after some kind of inflammatory process has begun. Sometimes this pathology is discovered by chance, during an ultrasound examination of another organ that is located next to the kidney.

Diagnosis of this anomaly occurs using cystoscopy (with this examination, three ureteric orifices are visible instead of two). Another examination that can detect the presence of a double kidney is excretory urography (here you can see the increased size of the kidney, as well as the third pelvis and an extra ureter), as well as ultrasound.

If the ultrasound shows a deviation from the norm during the examination, the doctor will also prescribe other examination methods to confirm the diagnosis. When cystoscopy shows three ureters, the diagnosis is confirmed. To determine the size of the enlarged kidney, the presence or absence of the third calyceal pelvis and the third ureter, the doctor prescribes excretory urography.

Without such an examination, in the absence of side diseases and inflammation, the doubling of the kidney does not manifest itself in any way, so such anomalies do not cause any problems.

According to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, this anomaly refers to congenital anomalies (malformations) of the urinary system and has an ICD 10 code - Q60-Q64.

Causes of a double kidney

A double kidney is usually a congenital pathology; according to statistics, girls are more likely to have such a kidney. The development of such an anomaly begins in the child in the womb. In humans, the reasons for the appearance of such an anomaly are very diverse:

  1. Radioactive exposure in the womb. This is possible if the parent’s work throughout the pregnancy was at an enterprise where the production process involves radiation;
  2. Inherited predisposition. This is possible if both parents had double kidneys, so the chance of getting such an anomaly increases;
  3. Poisoning with drugs, including hormonal drugs;
  4. Bad habits (abuse of alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc.);
  5. Frequent vitamin deficiency during pregnancy. In some regions, due to a shortage of fruits and vegetables, a lack of vitamins is possible, this especially clearly affects a woman during pregnancy.

Of course, these are just some of the reasons for the appearance of such an anomaly in a child. But some of the indicated causes of this congenital anomaly can be completely excluded for the health of the unborn baby.

Types of kidney duplication

There are two types of bifurcation - complete and incomplete doubling of the kidney is recognized. Such an anomaly can appear on one side (right or left) or on both sides simultaneously. In the second case, we are talking about a bilateral pathology of the number of kidneys - in fact, there are four of them.


With complete doubling of the kidneys, each of them has its own pyelocaliceal system and ureter. The accessory ureter can be separate and empty into the bladder (this is called complete duplication of the ureters) or merge with another, thereby forming one trunk and ending in one orifice in the bladder (incomplete duplication of the ureters).

Most often, the upper part of the kidney is underdeveloped; it is rare when both parts are fully developed or the lower part is more underdeveloped. The underdeveloped part of the double kidney is similar in its morphological structure to kidney dysplasia.

The presence of parenchymal renal dysplasia and impaired urodynamics due to splitting of the ureter create the prerequisites for the occurrence of various diseases in such a kidney.

What else you need to know about kidney duplication

With a longitudinal section of the kidney, you can see that the organ itself is represented by two lamellar layers (duplication), which differ in color. The upper layer is lighter - the cortex, the inner (brain) - darker. They mutually penetrate each other. The parts of the inner layer in the cortex are called “pyramids”, and the parts of the cortex form between them the so-called “Bertin’s columns”. The wide side of these pyramids faces the outer layer, and the narrow side faces the inner space. If we take one pyramid with the adjacent cortical layer, we get the renal lobe.

In infants and up to the age of 2-3 years, the cortical layer is not yet so developed, so the lobules are well defined, i.e. bud is dicotyledonous. In adults, this lobulation almost disappears.


Parenchyma performs an important function in the body - it controls the level of electrolytes and cleanses the blood. If an ultrasound reveals a parenchymal constriction (bridge), which divides the organ into two parts, causing incomplete doubling of the kidney, then this can be considered a normal variant.

Sometimes kidney duplication is accompanied by other anomalies in the development of this organ. For example, kidney dystopia develops when the organ is out of place. The movement or development of such an abnormal case may be a consequence of a double kidney.

Options for an anomalous location are:

  • At the level of the pelvis;
  • In the iliac region;
  • Lumbar region;
  • Intrathoracic location.

Video on the topic:

When is treatment needed?

By itself, kidney duplication does not manifest itself in any way, and in fact does not require treatment. But in such an abnormal kidney (especially with complete doubling), various diseases often develop, and so they require mandatory treatment. Frequent diseases associated with kidney duplication are:

  • Urolithiasis;
  • Hydronephrosis;
  • Pyelonephritis;
  • Polycystic disease;
  • Ectopic ureter.

The latter disease occurs when the mouth of the ureter flows into the rectum, cervix, vagina, or urethra. It is also possible that there is constant leakage of urine from the ureter and the person may feel this. Complete doubling of the kidney has such unpleasant consequences.

In medical practice, cases of incomplete doubling of the kidney located on the left are more common. The vast majority of people with such an anomaly live without suspecting anything about the existence of an extra organ. And what does it mean for a person with such a forked kidney? Incomplete doubling of the kidney does not cause any discomfort in humans and does not provoke inflammatory processes in the organ. If the pathology does not manifest itself in any way, no matter what type of kidney a person has, then one may not even know about the abnormal development of the organ.

If the presence of a double kidney has caused inflammatory processes, then various obvious signs of doubling appear:

When an infection appears in the urinary canal, all symptoms appear immediately or each one separately - everything will depend on the specific disease.

Surgical intervention

If complications occur, surgery is recommended. It is aimed at eliminating the cause that caused the complications. Various endoscopic and surgical interventions are performed. The kidney is usually preserved during these interventions. Complete removal of the kidney (nephrectomy) is performed only if its functions are completely lost. They can also perform partial removal of the kidney – hyminephrectomy.

Prevention

If this pathology does not manifest itself in any way and does not bother you, then people with three kidneys do not need to do anything. It is enough to follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle and regularly visit a doctor for preventive examinations.

It is worth giving up bad habits: drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, using drugs. It is recommended to change your job if it involves hazardous chemicals. Pay closer attention to your diet and work and rest schedule.

When carrying a child, women with this diagnosis should be more attentive to their health - follow basic rules to maintain health, and this means: do not take alcohol, drugs and medications that can affect the development of future children.



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