Weill Cornell Medicine Urology
Weill Cornell Medicine Urology
Pediatric Kidney Health (Laparoscopic Nephrectomy)

Pediatric Kidney Health (Laparoscopic Nephrectomy)

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Major advances in laparoscopic surgery have allowed for less invasive surgery in the realm of urology with the benefits of decreased post-operative discomfort and healing time as well as improved cosmetic results. 

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Initially, laparoscopy had limited diagnostic and therapeutic uses. With the advent of automatic clip appliers, stapling devices, impermeable organ removal bags and morcellating devices, the scope of procedures that can be performed laparoscopically has been broadened substantially. Such advances have allowed for laparoscopic varicocelectomies, bladder augmentations, urinary diversions, ureterolysis, adrenalectomies, nephrectomies and nephro-ureterectomies. We now have performed over 50 laparoscopic nephrectomies on children at our center. Our director, Dr. Dix Poppas, has performed all the operations.

Some of the indications for nephrectomy have included large painful, multicystic dysplastic kidneys, poorly controlled renovascular hypertension and a non-functioning kidney secondary to severe vesicoureteral reflux. Other children treated with this procedure have presented with urinary tract infections in the setting of non-functioning kidneys secondary to congenital UPJ obstructions. In one of these children (a one-year old girl), a horseshoe kidney was discovered with a non-functioning right kidney secondary to UPJ obstruction.

We have also performed laparoscopic nephro-ureterectomies on children. In this case, we remove the kidney and the entire ureter. The ureter is the muscular tube that drains urine into the bladder from the kidney. Several of these children presented with non-functioning kidneys secondary to severe vesicoureteral reflux. Reflux is a condition described elsewhere on our web site. In short, reflux allows the passage of infected urine into the kidney through the ureter. This can result in chronic infection and scarring of the kidney leading to unilateral and sometimes bilateral infections. The burned-out scarred kidneys that continue to have infections must be removed.

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We have also performed partial nephrectomies with ureterectomy on several children. These patients presented with urinary tract infections and were found to have duplicated collecting systems. In this situation we were able to separate the nonfunctioning portion of the duplicated kidney from the normally functioning portion in order to preserve future kidney function.

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To request an appointment, please call our office at 212-746-5337. Our phone staff are available to help you Monday-Friday, from 9AM-5PM (EST).

You can find the office contact information for each physician specializing in Pediatric Kidney Health by visiting their profile listed on the bottom of this webpage. 

If you'd like to learn more about our providers that specialize in Pediatric Kidney Health, please review the Physicians & Faculty profiles listed at the bottom of this page.

Pediatric Kidney Health (Laparoscopic Nephrectomy) - Treatment Options

Summary: 

Minimally invasive surgery and laparoscopy have rapidly come to the forefront as a feasible option for children with certain urological diseases.

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Physicians & Faculty

Amanda Neilan

C.P.N.P.

212-746-5361
212-746-5361
The Institute for Pediatric Urology

Ardavan Akhavan

M.D.

212.746.5361
212.746.5361
AETNA-HMO, AETNA-PPO, Aetna-Weill Cornell POS, Affinity Access, Affinity Health Plan, Blue Priority Network, CIGNA, EBCBS HMO, EBCBS Mediblue, EBCBS Pathway X, EBCBS Pathway X Enhanced, EBCBS PPO/EPO, Empire BCBS HealthPlus, Empire BCBS HealthPlus (CHP), Fidelis Care, Health First, Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP), Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicaid], Oxford Freedom, Oxford Health Plans [Liberty], Oxford Health Plans [Metro/Core/Charter], Rockefeller University-CoreSource, UHC Compass, United Empire Plan, United Health Care [Community Plan], United Healthcare Commercial, VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
The LeFrak Center for Robotic Surgery
Dr. Dix Phillip Poppas, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.S. | Cornell Urology

Dix P. Poppas

M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.P., F.C.P.

212.746.5337
212.746.5337
AETNA-HMO, AETNA-PPO, Aetna-Weill Cornell POS, Affinity Access, Affinity Essential, Affinity Health Plan, Blue Priority Network, CIGNA, EBCBS HMO, EBCBS Pathway X, EBCBS Pathway X Enhanced, EBCBS PPO/EPO, Empire BCBS HealthPlus, Empire BCBS HealthPlus (CHP), Fidelis Care, Health First, Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicaid], Medicaid, Medicare, Oxford Freedom, POMCO, Rockefeller University-CoreSource, VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
Klinefelter Syndrome Care Center
Dr. Jeremy B. Wiygul, M.D. | Cornell Urology

Jeremy Wiygul

M.D.

(718) 224-2644
(718) 224-2644
AETNA, AETNA [Medicare], AETNA-HMO, AETNA-PPO, Affinity Essential, Affinity Health Plan, Amida Care, CIGNA, EBCBS HMO, EBCBS Mediblue, EBCBS Pathway X, EBCBS Pathway X Enhanced, EBCBS PPO/EPO, Elderplan, Empire BCBS HealthPlus, Empire BCBS HealthPlus (CHP), Empire BCBS HealthPlus (Medicaid), Empire Plan, Fidelis (Medicare, Medicaid & CHP ), GHI, Health First, Health First (Medicare, Medicaid, FIDA, CHP, Exchange and Essential Plans), Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP), Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicaid], Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicare], Healthcare Partners (Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare only underwritten by HIP), HIP (Incl. Comprehealth) (Emblem Exchange Products: Select Care Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Basic), Local 1199, MagnaCare (PPO, Direct Plus), Medicaid Fee for Service, Medicare Fee for Service, MultiPlan, Oxford (NY State of Health), Oxford Freedom, Oxford Health Plans [Liberty], Oxford Health Plans [Medicare], Oxford Health Plans [Metro/Core/Charter], Oxford Medicare, UHC Community Plan - Essential Plan, UHC Community Plan - Medicaid Plan, UHC Compass, UHC Compass-HMO, UHC Medicare, United Empire Plan, United Health Care, United Health Care [Community Plan], United Healthcare Commercial, VNSNY CHOICE Medicare, VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth, VNSNY Choice/VNS FIDA (formerly Select Health), Wellcare (Medicare, Medicaid, CHP)
Weill Cornell Medicine Urology - Queens

Denise Galan

C.P.N.P

(212) 746-5337
(212) 746-5337
The Institute for Pediatric Urology
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