The Hellstrom operation for hydronephrosis.
It is suggested that lower polar renal vessels are a common cause of idiopathic hydronephrosis and that the Hellstrom operation, combined with pelviureteric lysis, is an effective and simple treatment of such cases. The operation is described and a prospective study of 15 cases so treated is outlined. The results were studied by clinical, radiological and renographic criteria and showed that deconvolution renography is a less valuable means than the relief of pain and improvement in appearance of the IVU and diuretic urograms in assessing results. The operation is minor and cannot make things worse and there is no possibility of urine leakage or late stenosis.