The prevalence of pediatric nephrolithiasis has increased dramatically in the past two decades for reasons that have yet to be fully elucidated. Workup of pediatric kidney stones should include metabolic assessment to identify and address any risk factors predisposing patients to recurrent stone formation, and treatment should aim to facilitate stone clearance while minimizing complications, radiation and anesthetic exposure, and other risks. Treatment methods include observation and supportive therapy, medical expulsive therapy, and surgical intervention, with choice of treatment method determined by clinicians' assessments of stone size, location, anatomic factors, comorbidities, other risk factors, and preferences and goals of patients and their families. Much of the current research into nephrolithiasis is restricted to adult populations, and more data are needed to better understand many aspects of the epidemiology and treatment of pediatric kidney stones.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland). 2023 Feb 13*** epublish ***
Brent Cao, Roby Daniel, Ryan McGregor, Gregory E Tasian
Department of Urology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA., Department of Medicine, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA., Division of Urology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.