Diagnosis And Treatment Trends In Pediatric Stone Disease: Preferences of Urologists In The Field

Introduction: Many different treatment options exist for pediatric stone disease (PSD). We conducted a survey among urologists in Turkey to find out which diagnostic and therapeutic method urologists choose for stones of different localization and size in pediatric patients of varying age groups. Materials and Methods: A survey on treatment options in various PSD was developed for urologists working in hospitals of different statuses. The survey consisted of 36 multiple-choice questions, and the average response time was 5 minutes. The measure taken to avoid repetitive responses was that the survey could only be completed once from an internet protocol. Results: The number of respondents was 95. 91.67%, 89.47%, and 80.21% of the participants preferred ultrasonography as the diagnostic method in the 0-2, 2-6, and 6-18 age ranges, respectively. In treating staghorn kidney stones between 0-2 and 2-6 years, mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) was preferred most frequently, followed by standard PCNL. In all age groups, shockwave lithotripsy was the most common procedure for symptomatic pelvic stones smaller than 10 mm, followed by retrograde intrarenal surgery in the second frequency. Endoscopic surgery was the most preferred method for bladder stones smaller than 2 cm in all age groups. Conclusion: The management of urinary tract stones in pediatric patients involves a complex set of processes. The sole aim is not to achieve stone-free management. Urologists in Turkey act following the guidelines. However, this is not always possible due to lack of facilities. The necessary facilities for urologists need to be improved.