Pediatric Urolithiasis: Current Surgical Strategies and Future Perspectives

New technological innovations and cutting-edge techniques have led to important changes in the surgical management of pediatric urolithiasis. Miniaturized technologies and minimally invasive approaches have been increasingly used in children with urinary stones to minimize surgical complications and improve patient outcomes. Moreover, the new computer technologies of the digital era have been opening new horizons for the preoperative planning and surgical treatment of children with urinary calculi. Three-dimensional modeling reconstructions, virtual, augmented, and mixed reality are rapidly approaching the surgical practice, equipping surgeons with powerful instruments to enhance the real-time intraoperative visualization of normal and pathological structures. The broad range of possibilities offered by these technological innovations in the adult population finds increasing applications in pediatrics, offering a more detailed visualization of small anatomical structures. This review illustrates the most promising techniques and devices to enhance the surgical treatment of pediatric urolithiasis in children, aiming to favor an early adoption and to stimulate more research on this topic.

Comparison of Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy by Standard and Miniperc Instruments in Pediatric Population: A Single-Center Experience

Objective:

The objective of this study was to compare mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) performed by standard and Miniperc techniques in pediatric patients.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study conducted at our institution between January 2012 and December 2017. The outcomes of pediatric renal stones treated by mini-PCNL done by Miniperc and standard techniques were compared in terms of the drop in the hemoglobin, stone-free rate, and analgesic requirement in the first 24 h.

Results:

A total of 57 children (age: 1–16 years), who underwent mini-PCNL by Miniperc equipment (n = 23) and standard equipment (n = 34), were included in this study. The postoperative mean drop in hemoglobin was significantly higher in mini-PCNL done by standard compared to the Miniperc technique. The stone-free rate was 95.65% in the Miniperc group and 94.12% in the standard mini-PCNL group. The need for analgesics was significantly lower in the Miniperc group compared to the standard mini-PCNL group (P = 0.0002). In the Miniperc group, the majority of the patients required only one dose of analgesics, whereas, in the standard mini-PCNL group, around 44% of the patients required three or more than three doses of analgesics to reduce postoperative pain.

Conclusion:

Both the techniques were safe and efficacious in the management of pediatric renal stone and stone clearance. However, the Miniperc technique resulted in significantly less pain and a lower dosage of analgesics.