Kidney Stone Clinic

Kidney stones can be very painful. Treatment includes offering pain relief and increasing water intake to allow small stones to pass on their own. In some cases, surgical procedures may be necessary to remove larger stones blocking the flow of urine and causing urinary tract infection or kidney injury. 

The prevention of future stones is a key element of our clinic. Diet, lifestyle and genetics can all contribute to kidney stone formation. Once a kidney stone occurs, there is a significant increased risk of having another.

We study the composition of your child’s kidney stones and conduct a 24-hour urine test and blood tests to help us determine the cause of your child’s kidney stone. The clinic’s dietitians collect a detailed diet history at your child’s first appointment. Kidney stone prevention is centered around making diet changes, although the doctor may also recommend medications. 

The Kidney Stone Clinic participates multiple studies aimed at improving the clinical care and long-term health of children with kidney stones, including the “Collaborative Research on Children with Kidney Stones” or CROCKs study. This large, multicenter study is aimed at identifying underlying metabolic risk factors, as well as potential environmental risk factors for kidney stone formation in children.