[Treatment of pediatric lithiasis in the lithotripsy and endourology unit of "Hospital La Luz". Commented retrospective of our case series].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present article is to summarize the results we obtained treating children with urolithiasis over the last 30 years and to perform an analysis on the basis of the these results and relevant details according to national and international experience.

METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive statistical analysis of the 30 year experience in our clinics. The study was performed with a sample size of 178 children treated with urolithiasis that underwent 221 procedures. These procedures include ESWL, ureterorenoscopy (URS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude in this study that ESWL in children was the most appropriate procedure for renal and proximal and middle-third ureteral lithiasis. Kidney stones measuring 2 to 3 cm can be treated without additional procedures or combined approaches. In contrast cystine stones caused the major problems for fragmentation. Moreover, the use of double J catheters increased the need for ESWL when catheter calcification occurred and endoscopic removal was impossible. The benefits of this method must be individually assessed both for the benefit of the temporary placement as well as for the expectation of permanence. We conclude that URS is the best choice for distal-third ureteral lithiasis and some cases of proximal and middle- third ureteral lithiasis. This enables for simultaneous treatments, ureteral dilatation and unexpected diagnoses. In particular, rigid ureteroscopy offers adjuvant options to ESWL with great therapeutic potential and easy handling. In consequence, to our good results and cost-benefit balance using ESWL and rigid URS (even combined), the use of flexible URS for renal lithiasis has been reduced. In general community units like ours, the combined PCNL has been indicated for particular complex cases, and open or laparoscopic surgery was not necessary in any case.