Pediatric Urology

About the program

Pediatric Urology at Mass General Brigham for Children is committed to providing the highest quality of care for all children with urologic needs. We offer a full range of services — including simple office procedures — from newborn circumcisions to penile and genital reconstruction, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and management of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. Our team collaborates closely with other pediatric specialists such as pediatric nephrology and radiology to ensure that you and your child have a seamless experience with us.

Part of Mass General Brigham for Children

Part of Urology

Conditions and treatments

Through a number of specialized clinics, we provide comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services for the broad spectrum of surgical diseases affecting the urinary and genital tracts:

• Vesicoureteral reflux (including minimally invasive endoscopic treatment with Deflux or robotic assisted minimally invasive reimplantation)
• Hypospadias and complex penile reconstructions
• Obstructive uropathies: congenital hydronephrosis, congenital megaureter, ureteral duplication/ureterocele, posterior urethral valves
• Prenatal consultation for antenatal hydronephrosis and other obstructive uropathies
• Inguinal hernia, hydrocele, undescended testicle (including laparoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of nonpalpable testis),
• Varicoceles
• Differences of sex development
• Complex urinary tract reconstruction (undiversion, bladder augmentation, incontinence procedures)
• Voiding dysfunction, enuresis, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections
• Neurogenic bladder
• Multicystic dysplastic kidney, ectopic kidney, horseshoe kidney, crossed fused ectopia
• Testicular torsion
• Pediatric genitourinary tumors
• Trauma
• Renal transplantation including minimally invasive nephrectomy for organ donation
• Kidney stones/nephrolithiasis

Specialized care

We are proud to offer some of the following specialized services to remain on the cutting edge of medical care.

Minimally invasive pediatric urology

• Laparoscopic varicocelectomy (for dilated veins in the scrotum), orchiopexy (bringing the testicle to the scrotum from the abdomen), and hernia repairs.
• Robotic assisted Laparoscopic procedures for simple or complex reconstructions of the urinary tract such as pyeloplasty, ureteroureterostomy and ureteral reimplantation, nephrectomy (removal of the kidney) or partial cystectomy (removing a portion of the bladder)
• Endoscopic injection of Deflux^TM for vesicoureteral reflux

Infant spinal anesthesia

We work together with our pediatric anesthesia colleagues to offer infant spinal anesthesia as an option for newborns and infants undergoing certain procedures of the lower body. This regional anesthesia technique is different from general anesthesia as the baby becomes numb and immobile from the waist down without losing consciousness. In many cases, the infants are able to take a nap naturally after the onset and are ready to be discharged faster from the recovery unit.

Non-radiation based imaging of the urinary tract

Many infants and children with congenital anomalies of their kidneys and urinary tract require diagnostic imaging with radiology. To reduce the exposure of small children to radiation, we have worked with our radiology colleagues to offer tests that do not use radiation to provide us with the information we need, such as contrast enhanced voiding ultrasonography and magnetic resonance urograms (MR Urograms). We utilize our excellent child life services to assist patients and families through these tests as well.

Preparing for your appointment

If your child has had any prior imaging or tests such as blood tests, ultrasounds, urine tests, please let our office know ahead of time so that we can obtain the outside records and images before your visit. You may need a referral from your pediatrician’s office ahead of time as. We will do our best to accommodate you at a location that is most convenient to your home.