Childhood urolithiasis is an evolving condition with an increasing incidence and prevalence over the last two decades. The incidence of pediatric stone disease has been increasing and the risk of recurrent stone formation is high in the pediatric population. It is crucial to use the most effective method with the primary goal of complete stone removal to prevent recurrence from residual fragments.
While extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is still considered first line therapy in many clinics for urinary tract stones in children, endoscopic techniques are widely preferred due to miniaturization of instruments and evolution of surgical techniques. The standard procedures to treat urinary stone disease in children are the same as those used in an adult population. These include ESWL, ureterorenoscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (standard PCNL or mini-perc), laparoscopic and recently robotic surgery. ESWL is currently the procedure of choice for treating most upper urinary tract calculi in a pediatric population.
In recent years, endourological, minimally-invasive and robotic management of pediatric urinary stone disease is preferred in many centers with increasing experience in endourological and minimally invasive surgical techniques and decreasing sizes of surgical equipment. In this Research Topic, we aim to summarize the recent techniques adopted for the management of urolithiasis in children.
Childhood urolithiasis is an evolving condition with an increasing incidence and prevalence over the last two decades. The incidence of pediatric stone disease has been increasing and the risk of recurrent stone formation is high in the pediatric population. It is crucial to use the most effective method with the primary goal of complete stone removal to prevent recurrence from residual fragments.
While extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is still considered first line therapy in many clinics for urinary tract stones in children, endoscopic techniques are widely preferred due to miniaturization of instruments and evolution of surgical techniques. The standard procedures to treat urinary stone disease in children are the same as those used in an adult population. These include ESWL, ureterorenoscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (standard PCNL or mini-perc), laparoscopic and recently robotic surgery. ESWL is currently the procedure of choice for treating most upper urinary tract calculi in a pediatric population.
In recent years, endourological, minimally-invasive and robotic management of pediatric urinary stone disease is preferred in many centers with increasing experience in endourological and minimally invasive surgical techniques and decreasing sizes of surgical equipment. In this Research Topic, we aim to summarize the recent techniques adopted for the management of urolithiasis in children.
