Surgical aspects of urolithiasis in children.

Operative management of renal calculi has changed radically in the last decade. New operative techniques, the use of intra-operative ultrasound and Doppler sonography have even made possible the removal of complete staghorn calculi in short and kidney-preserving procedures. The introduction of percutaneous nephrolithotomy and stone extraction using a specially designed ureteroscope and, above all, the clinical application of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy have made stone surgery less invasive and have provided a higher rate of preservation of kidney function.