Solomon had a rare condition called LUTO, an obstruction in his urinary tract, detected on his mom’s 20-week scans.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Solomon Dixie is barely a month old, but already he has managed to charm his team of doctors, nurses and therapists at Riley Hospital for Children.
Born Aug. 20 at Riley Hospital to Jacqueline Dixie of Fort Wayne, Solomon underwent his first surgery before he was out of the womb. The procedure was to help relieve pressure on his kidneys, lungs and bladder due to a rare condition called LUTO – lower urinary tract obstruction – discovered during Dixie’s 20-week fetal scans.
LUTO occurs before birth when the urethra – the tube that connects the bladder to the amniotic fluid space around the fetus – is completely or partially blocked. It occurs in about 1 in 5,000 fetuses and is more common in males. More specifically, Solomon was diagnosed with posterior urethral valves, flaps of tissue in a baby boy's urethra that prevent normal urine flow, leading to bladder and kidney damage.
Dr. Hiba Mustafa, director of fetal surgery at Riley, placed a small tube, or shunt, in baby Solomon at about 23 weeks’ gestation to drain urine from the bladder into the amniotic cavity.
The procedure helps restore amniotic fluid levels, improving lung development.
Solomon was delivered at Riley at 34 weeks, requiring additional surgery within the first two weeks by urologist Dr. Rosalia Misseri to relieve the obstruction and allow urine to flow. He has been in the NICU in Simon Family Tower since then, but Dixie is hopeful that he might get to come home soon.
“It’s been scary at times for sure,” she said. “It’s getting easier because we pray a lot, and we’re definitely hopeful. It seems like our prayers are being answered.”
Urology and nephrology specialists, as well as pulmonary and neonatal providers at Riley have been involved in his care, and Dixie is optimistic that her little boy will not require dialysis, as originally feared.
“The doctors are doing a great job taking care of him and making sure he has everything he needs.”
Dr. Misseri cautions that Solomon will be watched closely over the next year as doctors assess his renal and bladder function, but dialysis could still be necessary.
"What we've avoided is the early need for dialysis," she said.
Though Dixie would like nothing better than to be by his side every day, she returned to work within two weeks of his birth and can only come down to Indianapolis on the weekends. She arrives Fridays at midnight and leaves again for work Monday morning.
“It’s stressful still because I want to be with him 24/7, but I talk to the nurse every day, and I have the NICU camera up so I can watch him.”
Currently, Riley specialists are working to stabilize his feeds and will be putting in a G-tube, then training Dixie in its use before discharging Solomon, possibly by the week after next.
Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
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