Endourology is the application of percutaneous (literally: “through the skin”) techniques to urological problems. The most common application of endourologic techniques is the removal of kidney and bladder stones. Endourologists have also pioneered the application of laparoscopy and other minimally invasive techniques to urological diseases.
Pediatric endourology is a developing field. The goals of pediatric endourology are to improve surgical outcomes while minimizing pain and cosmetic consequences of surgery. Endourologic techniques have been applied to pediatric urinary stone disease, management of the undescended testicle (undescended testis or cryptorchidism) and, most recently, to reconstructive urologic problems, including the neurogenic bladder and bowel in spina bifida, and the reconstruction of patients with bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy and other major congenital anomalies.
