Texas Hydronephrosis Lawsuit

Hydronephrosis, also known as “antenatal hydronephrosis,” is diagnosed in 1-5% of all pregnancies. It is a congenital birth defect affecting the kidneys, in which urine overfills the kidneys. It is usually caused by an obstruction that prevents urine from flowing out. Severe, untreated cases of hydronephrosis can cause kidney failure and require surgical repair. When pregnant women take SSRI antidepressant drugs, they have an increased chance of having a birth defect. Many of these women are now contacting a lawyer at the Clark Firm LLP for a lawsuit against the drug-makers.

Do I Have a Hydronephrosis Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has given birth to a child with a birth defect after taking an SSRI, antidepressant, or other medication during pregnancy, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Hydronephrosis lawsuit.

Hydronephrosis Overview

Hydronephrosis, also known as “antenatal hydronephrosis,” occurs when too much urine fills the kidneys. This is usually due to an obstruction in the ureter, which is the tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder. There may also be urine reflux, which results in urine back-flowing into the kidneys, though more than 75% of children with urine reflux outgrow this condition and need no surgical treatment.

Hydronephrosis may be unilateral, affecting only one kidney, or bilateral, affecting both kidneys. Because of the increased amount of urine, the kidneys become stretched. Over time, the tissue can become inflamed, damaged, and susceptible to infection.

Antidepressants, SSRIs, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Symbyax, Wellbutrin, Zyban, Lustral, Effexor linked to Hydronephrosis

SSRIs / Antidepressant Drugs: There is growing evidence linking these medications to a variety of birth defects, when women took them during pregnancy. If you have had a child that was born with a birth defect after taking any medication, you should contact a lawyer at the Clark Firm LLP.

• Paxil, Seroxat (paroxetine)
• Zoloft, Lustral (sertraline)
• Celexa (citalopram)
• Lexapro, Cipralex (escitalopram)
• Symbyax (fluxetine and olanzapine)
• Wellbutrin, Zyban (bupropion)
• Effexor (vanlafaxine)

Signs & Symptoms of Hydronephrosis

Because of modern advances in ultrasound diagnostics, more and more cases of hydronephrosis are being diagnosed before a baby is born. Before these technological advances, most children weren’t diagnosed with this condition until they were three or four years old, when symptoms began causing problems. Some research suggests that it is one of the most common birth defects, affecting as much as 2% of the male population, but most children never have any symptoms. Nowadays, hydronephrosis is diagnosed in as many as one out of 100 babies during an ultrasound, but it is almost always minor. In about half of these cases, the hydronephrosis resolves on its own before the child is born.

For children who are born with severe hydronephrosis, however, the symptoms may be very painful. Serious complications may occur, and these include:

• Kidney damage, including infections, pain, and bleeding
• Urinary infection, including painful urine, cloudy urine, back pain, and fever
• Kidney disease (nephrosis)

Physical symptoms may include:

• flank pain
• abdominal mass
• nausea and vomiting
• urinary tract infection
• fever
• painful urination (dysuria)
• increased urinary frequency
• increased urinary urgency

Treatment & Prognosis

When the child is born, he or she will be given antibiotics to ward off kidney disease and infection. These antibiotics will specifically target urinary problems. For most mild cases, treatment will depend on whether the condition gets worse or begins to resolve on its own. When the cause is due to an obstruction, surgery may be necessary to clear the obstruction. For non-obstructive hydronephrosis, the problems usually resolve on their own. If a child has a Grade IV hydronephrosis, which is the most severe level, the child is likely to need surgery to prevent kidney failure. The surgery to repair hydronephrosis is called pyeloplasty.

Pyeloplasty is a type of surgery in which fluid is drained from the kidneys. The goal of the surgery is to remove the obstruction in the ureter which is the tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder. Usually, a surgeon makes an incision in the child’s side. The abnormal section of the ureter is removed and the healthy parts connected to each other. The long-term prognosis for children who undergo this surgery is usually very good, though the child will need to be monitored periodically to ensure there are no further blockages in the urinary tract.

Do I Have a Hydronephrosis Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free hydronephrosis lawsuit review.