In this section
Urinary tract and kidney stones are relatively uncommon in children. When they do occur, they require specialised, child-focused care to treat the stone effectively, protect developing kidney function, and prevent future episodes.
The Paediatric Stone Service at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) provides a dedicated, multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, minimally invasive surgical management, and long-term metabolic prevention of stones in patients from infancy up to 16 years of age.
We treat urinary stone disease of all complexities, including:
- Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis)
- Ureteral stones (stones causing acute urinary tract blockages)
- Bladder stones
- Recurrent stone disease and underlying metabolic predispositions (such as cystinuria, hypercalciuria, and primary hyperoxaluria)
Our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT):
- Consultant Paediatric Urologists (Mr De Silva Amila, Ms Arianna Mariotto, Mr Hassan Ahmed)
- Consultant Adult Urologist (Prof Ben Grey)
- Paediatric Nephrologists
Our comprehensive management includes diagnostic, treatment and prevention recurrence.
We have an advanced child-centric diagnostic with High-resolution Ultrasound, Ultra-Low Dose CT Scanning and Comprehensive Metabolic Evaluation with genetic testing when required.
We offer minimally Invasive Treatments using:
- Laser Ureteroscopy (URS): A thin, miniature telescope passed through the natural urinary tract to fragment and clear stones using precise laser fibres.
- Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (Mini-PCNL): Keyhole surgery through a tiny incision in the back to treat large or complex kidney stones.
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL): A non-invasive procedure that uses targeted shockwaves to break stones into tiny pieces, allowing them to pass naturally in the urine.
Treating the active stone is only the first step. Our team creates customised medical, dietary, and hydration strategies designed to significantly lower the risk of future stone formation.
At RMCH, our combination of surgical expertise, advanced low-radiation diagnostics, and dedicated long-term preventative care ensures your child receives the highest standard of treatment. We are committed to supporting your family every step of the way, from initial diagnosis through to complete recovery and future prevention.