Pediatric Urology

The Pediatric Urology Service at UCSF is a leading northern California provider of comprehensive care for genitourinary problems in children. Led by Laurence Baskin, MD the surgical team routinely repairs on an outpatient basis such genital anomalies as hypospadias, undescended testicles, hydroceles and hernias. In addition, UCSF is one of the few northern California institutions that specializes in multidisciplinary approaches to the treatment of more complex urologic disorders, such as exstrophy, intersex, Wilms tumor, and bladder rehabilitation secondary to neurogenic lesions, such as myelomeningocele.

Diagnostic Testing

UCSF's surgical team personally performs any necessary radiological and urodynamic procedures for the evaluation of patients with bladder dysfunction, urinary tract infections, hydronephrosis and incontinence. Urodynamic studies are performed simultaneously with any radiographic studies, obviating the need for a second catheterization in young patients. In addition, UCSF's renowned ultrasonography section frequently is able to diagnose abnormalities that are missed or misinterpreted at other institutions.

Surgical Innovations

UCSF pediatric urologists have pioneered several laparoscopic procedures that allow formerly complex open surgeries to be performed on an outpatient basis. These include laparoscopic orchiopexy, which allows for preservation of undescended intraabdominal testes without extensive abdominal surgery, and endopyelotomy to unblock obstructed kidneys.

The UCSF team successfully employs other innovative techniques for the repair of complex medical problems, such as bladder exstrophy and neurogenic bladder dysfunction, often associated with myelodysplasia. Use of bladder augmentation, artificial sphincters and continent stomas often restores continence and preserves renal function in children who would otherwise require kidney dialysis or transplantation.

Using the most advanced techniques, the surgical team can correct even severe penile deformities on an outpatient basis, reducing costs and stress on families and young patients. In addition to performing primary operations, the team specializes in treating patients on referral for repair of failed prior surgeries. UCSF is one of a few institutions using buccal mucosa graft for urethral reconstruction, a technique that provides excellent results in patients who do not have sufficient local penile skin for a vascularized penile skin flap.

Whenever surgery is required, the pediatric anesthesia team based in UCSF's Ambulatory Care Surgery Center (outpatient) and Children's Surgery Center (inpatient), uses a patient centered approach that reduces stress on the patient and family and minimizes post-operative physical discomfort.

Volume and Outcome Measures

Hypospadias repair (annual): 80 Uteropelvic junction repairs (1995): 18 Antireflux surgery (1995): 27

A recent review of results in the treatment of three common pediatric urologic problems (vesicoureteral reflux, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, and hypospadias), validates the benefits of UCSF's combination of innovative, technically advanced care in a child centered program that emphasizes outpatient treatment. A 1995 outcome analysis at UCSF showed that the surgical success rate for antireflux and obstruction repairs was 98%, even in complex cases not done elsewhere, and the average inpatient length of stay for these procedures was 3.0 and 2.7 days respectively, two to three days shorter than at other northern California hospitals. UCSF's success rates for the treatment of hypospadias are among the best, and in contrast to most northern California hospitals, 99% of patients go home the day of surgery. In addition, in a recent patient/parent satisfaction survey, 98% of respondents gave the service a positive rating.

Coordination of Care with the Referring Physician

The UCSF Pediatric Urology team works closely with referring physicians and provides telephone and e-mail consultations as needed. They can be paged 24 hours a day for urgent and emergency service.

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Faculty

Laurence Baskin, MD
Michael DiSandro, MD

Key Staff

Anne Arnhym, CPNP
Clinical Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
anne.arnhym@ucsfmedctr.org

Angie Hinds, CPNP
Clinical Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
angelique.hinds@ucsfmedctr.org

Courtney Moll, CPNP
Clinical Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
courtney.moll@ucsfmedctr.org

Appointments & Location

UCSF Medical Center, Parnassus Campus
400 Parnassus Avenue, Suite A-610
San Francisco, CA 94143-0330

Contact Number

For referral or program information, please contact
Phone: 415/353-2200
Fax: 415/353-2480
e-mail: lbaskin@urology.ucsf.edu

Fellowship

Interested in completing a fellowship in Pedicatric Urology? Please visit our fellowship section of the website

Patient Handouts & Services

Visit our Patient Information section to download Patient Handouts and learn about other services.

Pediatric Urology Newsletter

Download our Newsletter

Listing of Specialty Services Provided

Antenatal hydronephrosis (Fetal Hydronephrosis)
Genital Anomalies
	Adolescent varicoceles
	Epispadias/exstrophy
	Hydrocele/hernia (male and female)
	Hypospadias
	Intersex and genitalia reconstruction (vaginoplasty)
	Undescended testes
Hematuria
Minimally-invasive surgery (laparoscopy and endoscopy)
Myelomeningocele urinary tract management (incontinence)
Neurogenic bladder
Treatment of genitourinary malignancies
	Rhabdomyosarcomas
	Wilms tumors
Urinary incontinence and enuresis
Urinary stone disease
Urinary tract infections
Urinary tract obstruction
	Megaureters
	Posterior urethral valves
	Prune Belly Syndrome
	Ureteroceles
	Uretero-pelvic junction obstruction
	Urinary tract strictures
Urinary tract reconstruction
	Artificial urinary sphincter and urinary continence surgery
	Gastric, ileal, colonic and ureteral bladder augmentation
	Pre-renal transplantation reconstruction
	Urinary undiversion/diversion
Vesico-ureteral reflux and reflux nephropathy