Innovations and Research

Innovations and research in the Urology Department at Boston Children's Hospital

Research in our department currently focuses on prenatal hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux, adolescent varicocele, bladder exstrophy, human factors influenced in clinical outcomes, hypospadias, undescended testicles, laparoscopic surgery, intersex conditions and new surgical techniques and procedures employing robotic-assisted surgery.

In addition, Boston Children's Pediatric Urology Department is at the forefront of laboratory investigation and offers several specialty clinics, such as the exstrophy-epispadias program, the voiding improvement program (VIP) and the perinatal urology program.

We also have a robust program in basic science research, involving tissue engineering, proteomics, sperm preservation in cancer patients and bladder physiology.

Innovations

Robotic surgery

Boston Children's Hospital leads the world in pediatric robotic surgery, with the most pediatric robotic surgeries and a wider array of procedures than any other pediatric hospital. The Pediatric Urology Department has been at the forefront of pediatric robotic surgery for four years. The Robotic Development and Research Program in Pediatric Urology at Children's studies outcomes of robotic surgery, and trains physicians from around the country on the use of the robot.

In urology, the technology has made it possible for surgeons to perform complex procedures through small incisions, reducing pain, recovery time, and hospital stays. Today, half of the pyeloplasty procedures performed here are done with the assistance of the robot. This has transformed the procedure, used to correct abnormal narrowing of the ureter, from a major abdominal surgery that left a 3" scar into one that leaves a mark smaller than 1/2" on the abdomen.

The technology is also used for bladder augmentation surgery, for ureteral reconstructions, and some renal surgeries.

Robotic surgery webcast

Watch Dr. Hiep Nguyen perform robotic-assisted, intravesical, ureteral reimplantation on a 6 year old patient. In addition, listen to specialists at Children's discuss additional procedures utilizing robotic surgery, and see an interview with a patient who has experienced robotic surgery.

Clinical outcomes research

Clinical outcomes research (COR) helps to establish "best practice" techniques and clinical care guidelines. It allows clinicians and patients to view the clinical outcomes of various clinical conditions treated at Boston Children's Hospital.

COR is designed for all patients who are treated at Boston Children's Hospital. Participation in any active clinical research protocol is voluntary and will be discussed with you and your child prior to enrollment. During this discussion, it will be clear whether you and your child will be eligible for a specific program.

Our specialties and team expertise

Our team is investigating:

Prenatal hydronephrosis
Vesicoureteral reflux
Adolescent varicocele
Bladder exstrophy
Human factors influenced in clinical outcomes.
Hypospadias
Undescended testicles
Robotic surgery
Laparoscopy surgery
Intersex conditions

Given the large clinical volume and staff, we have the clinical experience, expertise and volume to help answer questions and further investigate outcomes
research.

Urology