Massachusetts General Hospital | MassGeneral Hospital for Children

The Expertise and Resources of Mass General, for Children

The Pediatric Kidney Stone Program combines the expertise of pediatric urologists at Mass General Hospital for Children with the skill and experience of physicians from Mass General’s Department of Urology whose sole focus is treating kidney stones. We care for hundreds of patients with kidney stones every year, so our physicians understand the full range of symptoms. Using this knowledge, they prescribe the most effective methods of treatment and prevention.

Pediatric Specialists, Personalized Treatment

Treatment begins with a board-certified pediatric urologist, who will develop a personalized treatment plan for your child. Non-invasive and minimally-invasive procedures are used to treat kidney stones whenever possible and reduce complications and healing times. For most kidney stone procedures, children can go home the same day. For more complex cases, children may stay two to three days in the hospital for observation and recovery.

State-of-the-Art Equipment

Mass General is one of the few hospitals in New England that has two of the most advanced stone removal technologies on site: noninvasive shockwave therapy and minimally invasive laser technology (lithotripsy). Because the most advanced equipment is available at the hospital, children rarely have to wait to have stones removed, sparing them the prolonged pain and discomfort of a temporary stent.

Other treatment options include:

• percutaneous treatment of stones
• pyelo- or uretero- lithotomy
• laparoscopic surgery

Prevention and Long-Term Followup

Kidney stones may be caused by an underlying problem including metabolic disorders or infections. To help prevent recurrence, your child may be evaluated by additional specialists, including pediatric nephrologists or endocrinologists. If needed, our specialists offer long-term followup, as well as transition to adult care.

Research & Clinical Trials

Research is focused on technological innovations in the treatment of kidney stone disease, including:

• Development of a GPS guidance system for stone surgery
• Use of BackStop polymer to prevent retropulsion of stones during laser treatment
• Antibiotics and their role in the prevention of infectious complications from stone disease
• Natural history of stone disease as seen through stone composition over time in recurrent stone formers
• The correlation between vitamin D and the development of stone disease