Archive for urology
Building a better bladder: Reconstructive urologic surgery helps Mikey thrive
When Mikey Tibbetts’ parents, Johanna and Matt, take him trick-or-treating, the process can last for hours. “He knows everyone and wants to stop and talk,” laughs Johanna. “We call him the mayor.” Indeed, the “super-smart” 9-year-old has even memorized the entire map of his hometown in southeastern Massachusetts. Mikey’s popularity extends to Boston Children’s Hospital, ... Read More
Study links urinary incontinence in female athletes to low energy availability
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common experience for female athletes that can significantly impact their enjoyment of and participation in sports. Previous studies have shown that female athletes who experience urinary incontinence are more likely to drop out of their sports. Noting a large number of female athletes presenting with urinary incontinence, physicians in the ... Read More
Predicting the best treatment for vesicoureteral reflux in kids: The power of machine learning
The result of abnormal formation of the normal valve between the kidney and bladder, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) can lead to recurrent febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney scarring in children. Previous research has shown that when taken continuously, prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the risk of recurrent UTI in about half of this population. However, ... Read More
Surgery during COVID-19: Answers for parents
Any time a child needs surgery, safety is a natural concern. With COVID-19, many parents are feeling more concerned than ever. “As a parent myself, one of the scariest things about this pandemic is that you’re often having to make decisions based on incomplete information, says Dr. Prathima Nandivada, an attending surgeon in the Department ... Read More
Innovative new shunt delivery system holds promise for treatment of fetal urinary tract obstruction
Urinary tract obstruction that occurs in utero can have serious consequences for the fetus. Such obstructions can block the flow of fetal urine, which makes up amniotic fluid. Without adequate levels of amniotic fluid, a fetus may not develop properly, especially in terms of the fetal lungs. Fetal urinary tract obstructions can range from mild ... Read More
Harnessing the power of machine learning to improve urology care
Urodynamics — a group of tests that evaluate how well the body collects, and then releases, urine — can be crucial for diagnosing urologic problems, particularly in children with spinal cord defects and other neurologic conditions. While urodynamics can provide clinicians with a rich set of data, the interpretation of these tests remains unstandardized. That ... Read More
At the forefront of kidney stone removal: Innovative approaches transform patient care
No longer considered just an adult problem, kidney stones increasingly affect children as well. The majority of children who cannot pass stones on their own can be treated with minimally invasive approaches such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, laparoscopic and robotic approaches and, rarely, open surgery. Now, two recent innovations provide additional ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Meet Dr. Bartley Cilento, Jr.
Pediatric urologist Bartley Cilento, Jr., MD, MPH, is co-director of the Kidney Stone Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, which cares for children and adolescents who have or are at risk for developing kidney stones. He also serves as director of the hospital’s Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program. What does your job involve? My job involves treating ... Read More
Stetson travels from Texas for bladder exstrophy care
As first-time parents, Rachael and Leroy Calk expected to have questions after their son, Stetson, was born. What they didn’t expect was to find themselves faced with a surprising diagnosis when their baby was just a few hours old — and to begin a journey for answers about his care. Although Rachael’s pregnancy had been ... Read More
Henry’s bladder exstrophy journey
Just a few months into his young life, Henry Packer has traveled from the Netherlands to Utah to Massachusetts — and has gone from being a medical mystery to making a best friend with the same rare condition. It’s all part of his ongoing journey with bladder exstrophy, a congenital anomaly in which a baby’s ... Read More