Children's Hospital Colorado

Pediatric Urology Medical Education Videos

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we treat the big things, the small things and everything in between.

Best Children's Hospital by U.S. News & World Report Urology 2021-2 Badge

Experts in Children's Hospital Colorado's Department of Pediatric Urology are dedicated to advancing the field of urology to improve the care and lives of all children with urologic conditions. That's why we conduct research to advance care techniques that can be used for our patients and kids anywhere. Watch the pediatric urology medical education videos below for protocols and research from our experts to help improve the care of your patients.

The robotic surgery program

Introducing Children’s Hospital Colorado’s new robotic surgery program, providing cutting-edge surgical care in the Rocky Mountain region. Robotic surgery is relatively new in pediatrics, but there are a handful of great use cases, including robotic pyeloplasty, robotic urinary tract reconstruction (e.g., Mitrofanoff channel creation) and robotic urologic oncology (e.g., adrenalectomy, nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection).

In this video, Nicholas Cost, MD, provides an overview of the robotic surgery program and how he sees Children’s Colorado leading the field in robotic surgery – from research to product development. As a urologist focused on urologic oncology, Dr. Cost explains how his experience with robotics on adult patients helps to adapt and expand robotic surgery to pediatric patients.

Deformable needle demonstration

As pediatric surgeons increasingly perform more minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, arthroscopy and robotic-assisted surgery, their skills are applied to reconstructive procedures to treat various conditions, including congenital defects and birth abnormalities.

While reconstruction often requires suture materials, the diameter of available needles is too large to enter and exit ports. Needles sometimes get stuck during procedures, forcing surgeons to either use a needle that is too or bend the needle to fit within the port.

In this video, Duncan Wilcox, MD, of Children’s Colorado shares a newly developed deformable needle made from Nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy that can be easily manipulated to fit more easily inside ports. Using an introducer device, surgeons can easily insert the needle in a straight line and bend it as needed to perform minimally invasive reconstructive procedures. A patent is pending on the needle, and Dr. Wilcox and a team of engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder are finalizing prototypes in hopes of soon using the needle in clinical practice.

Enhanced recovery after surgery: research update on benefits of protocol

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a protocol first developed in the late 90s designed to help address changes in the body that occur from surgery. At Children’s Colorado, we have been studying ERAS protocols in order to develop care pathways for children receiving surgical care. We have found changes to care can be quite minimal and straightforward, and we continue to research how to improve patient outcomes.

In this video, pediatric urologist Kyle Rove, MD, discusses the results of his study, “Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and Anesthetic Outcomes in Pediatric Reconstructive Urologic Surgery.” With the initial results, he discusses how it has had a significant impact on the length of stay and complications, and he encourages providers to apply the protocols to more patients undergoing surgery. His work has reaffirmed the original findings of an ERAS protocol, and we continue to apply ERAS recommendations and study it further.

Transitional urology: the new transition service, seeing children through to adult care

It can be crucial for patients to find their footing prior to their transition into adult care. At Children’s Colorado, we are committed to a seamless care experience for pediatric patients from the prenatal period through to adulthood. We welcome transitional urologist Daniel Wood, MD, who will lead, in partnership with UCHealth, Children’s Colorado’s first Transitional Program, which focuses on adolescents and young adults with complex urologic problems.

In this video, Dr. Wood discusses the reason for creating this program and our approach to treating pediatric urology patients who will need lifelong care. This service is designed to help our patients learn how to navigate their independence in receiving the care they need, and why it is so important for them to continue with their follow-up and treatment plan. The vision of the program is to provide excellent care and to establish ourselves as a reference center for outcomes and training for other hospitals and teams.

Postoperative care pathways for radical nephrectomy recovery

Early recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in children undergoing urologic reconstruction surgery have been shown to reduce length of hospital stay and decrease complication rates. Our researchers conducted a pediatric urology surgery study to explore the factors associated with a shorter postoperative stay, establishing the first step in developing a care pathway for children receiving radical nephrectomy for suspected pediatric renal tumors.

In this video, pediatric urologists Nicholas Cost, MD and Kyle Rove, MD discuss the results of their study, "Development of a postoperative care pathway for children with renal tumors." They talk about how ERAS protocols can help expedite the path to adjuvant therapy and strengthen the surgeon's role on the care team. Additionally, they review the application of ERAS protocols to other types of surgeries and how they can be implemented across institutions.

Read a summary of this ERAS research study.

Kidney stones in children are becoming more common. These small, hard deposits of minerals and salts can form in the urinary tract, blocking the flow of urine and causing pain. If a child has had a pediatric kidney stone, they face a higher risk of developing more in the future.

Many children with kidney stones go to the emergency room or visit a pediatrician. A special clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado's Stone Center brings together multiple experts who can diagnosis, treat and prevent kidney stones in children. At The Stone Clinic, you can meet with a pediatric nephrologist, pediatric urologist and a pediatric dietician — all during the same appointment. 

In this video, pediatric urologist Kyle Rove, MD and pediatric nephrologist Vivian Shih, MD describe the benefits fo this multidisciplinary clinic. The Stone Clinic offers diagnostic tests, including imaging tests and bloodwork to look for biochemical or metabolic abnormalities. The team also provides a range of treatment options, including advice on practical dietary changes, long-term observation, medications and sometimes surgery.