Treating and Preventing Pediatric Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are on the rise in children. This is a serious concern because the incidence of a kidney stone is highly predictive of recurring kidney stones. That's why the Pediatric Kidney Stone Prevention Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has developed a strategy not just for treating existing stones, but for preventing recurrence as well.
A Unique Approach: The Joint Pediatric Nephrology/Urology Program
Our approach for pediatric kidney stones is based on a close partnership between Pediatric Urology, Nephrology, and Nutrition. Our
Pediatric Urologists, who are leaders in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery for children, share space with our
Pediatric Nephrology team. Patients can see both teams at once, and the teams can consult with each other in real time.
Removal, Therapy, Prevention
The goal is to combine stone removal with the ability develop an optimal therapy for preventing future stones. To do this, we gather a detailed dietary, family and lifestyle history and perform a comprehensive 24-hour urine metabolic panel to determine primary risk factors.
When medications are necessary, our physicians are knowledgeable in the therapies best suited for children. Most important, our renal dietitian provides dietary interventions via telemedicine to make sure patients are doing all they can to prevent this painful and debilitating condition from coming back.
Contact Us
To schedule a nephrology appointment or consultation, please call 412-692-5182.
