Pediatric anatrophic nephrolithotomy.

A 15-year experience with pediatric anatrophic nephrolithotomy was reviewed. There were 11 procedures performed in 10 patients. Average patient age was 9.43 plus or minus 1.54 years (standard error of the mean). Preoperative urine cultures were positive in 6 of 11 cases. Metabolic or structural defects were identified in all patients. Postoperative morbidity was minimal. Adequate followup was available in 9 patients, for an average length of 4.6 plus or minus 0.96 years. Stones recurred in 7 of 9 patients (78 per cent) but in 2 the new calculi were small and asymptomatic. Anatrophic nephrolithotomy can be performed safely in children but a high incidence of structural and metabolic abnormalities predisposes these patients to recurrent stones.

Duke Scholars

Author Dean George Assimos Urology