Pediatric urolithiasis: incidence and surgical treatment

ABSTRACT

To report our experience with pediatric urinary tract stones to determine the frequency and location of urinary stone in the urinary tract system. All files of patients who underwent open surgery for stone between 1997 until 2009 at King Hussein Medical Center, Pediatric Surgery division were reviewed. Demographic features as well as location of stone, morbidity, associated abnormalities, surgical approach and outcome were analyzed. During the study period, 74 open stone operations were performed in our hospital. The mean age of the patient was 3.6 years, 19[25.6%] patients were females. Infant with stones represented 24.3% of the total. The stones were in the kidneys in 46[62%] patients, the ureter in [12%] and, the bladder in [25.6%]. Associated urogenital abnormalities were detected in four cases, including ureteropelvic junction obstruction and anatomic urinary bladder abnormality. Surgical approaches to urolithiasis in children continue to evolve, with open surgery being reserved for particular and complex cases. The use of ESWL and endourological methods of treatment for urolithiasis in children must be generalized