ABSTRACT
Until recently, most renal calculi in children were considered infective in origin. As a result of the dramatic advances in technology over the last decades, the less invasive techniques of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), ureterorenoscopy/retrograde intrarenal surgery and percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) have superseded open surgery for renal calculi in children. The purposes of the ureteric catheter are, first, to enable contrast to be instilled into the pelvicalyceal system and, second, for stone fragments that threaten to migrate down the ureter during the PCNL to be flushed back into the pelvis for extraction. Bladder stones can be dealt with in a variety of ways, including open cystolithotomy or by minimally invasive techniques either per urethra/per Mitrofanoff or percutaneously by PCCL. Endourological procedures afford a reduced length of stay and similar procedural time as open cystolithotomy with 90% stone clearance.
