Pediatric Kidney Stone Clinic
When your child has issues with kidney stones, it can be painful for them — and stressful for you.
UK HealthCare’s Pediatric Kidney Stone Clinic brings together Kentucky Children’s Hospital’s pediatric nephrologists and urologists to provide specialized kidney stone diagnosis and treatment for kids of all ages. Our multidisciplinary approach means that kids and teens have access to individualized plans that can include preventive care, state-of-the-art surgical and nonsurgical procedures, and nutritional guidance, all designed with the goal of treating kidney stones and reducing their recurrence.
Pediatric kidney stone symptoms
Kidney stones are small, rock-like formations made of minerals and salt that can form in the kidney, bladder or urinary tract. Kidney stone pain is often caused when a stone blocks the ureter, a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder.
Symptoms of a kidney stone may include:
- Blood in the urine
- Feeling an urgent need to urinate or burning during urination
- Fever
- Mild to severe pain in the back, side, stomach and/or groin
- Nausea or vomiting
- Urinary tract infection
Kidney stones can be genetic or the result of diet or a sedentary lifestyle.
Treatment for pediatric kidney stones
Kidney stones are diagnosed through imaging. A CT scan or an ultrasound will show the kidney stone, and doctors will use information about the stone’s size and location to determine the best treatment option.
In some cases, the stone will be small enough to pass on its own through the urine, and the doctor will treat the symptoms, monitor hydration and help prevent infection.
When the stone won’t pass on its own, other treatments may be necessary. Treatments used at the Pediatric Kidney Stone Clinic may include:
- Shockwave lithotripsy: This incisionless procedure is best for small or medium kidney stones. Shockwaves directed at the kidney from outside the body pass through the skin and break the stone into small pieces that pass through the urine.
- Ureteroscopy: This incisionless procedure is used for kidney stones blocking the ureters. While the patient is under anesthesia, the doctor uses a thin, flexible scope to locate and break up stones.
- Minimally invasive surgery: These procedures, used for larger stones, are performed under anesthesia using small incisions. A nephrolithotomy removes the stone through a thin tube.
Why choose UK HealthCare for treatment of pediatric kidney stones?
Most children with kidney stones have about a 50% chance of developing them again within three years. Our team of experts – which includes pediatric nephrologists and urologists, a dietitian, nurses and social workers – collaborates to personalize care based on the child so that they don’t experience another kidney stone episode.
We streamline our process as much as possible so that patients can undergo imaging tests and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan in a single appointment.
Patient referrals
For patient appointments, please ask your primary care provider or pediatrician to make a referral.
Health care providers, please visit our referral page to refer your patient to this service.
