Whether your child or adolescent is living with chronic kidney disease,
a challenging kidney condition, or experiencing a short-term kidney problem,
you want to ensure they receive the best possible care to help them return
to and maintain good health.
Expert Care for Your Child’s Kidney Health
If you’re looking for expert pediatric nephrologists for thorough
evaluation and accurate diagnosis, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital
OU Health has you covered. You will work with a team of children’s
kidney specialists in a multidisciplinary environment with nurses, social
workers, dietitians, pharmacists, psychologists, and child life specialists.
Our children’s kidney specialists also collaborate with other healthcare
professionals to develop a personalized treatment plan for your child’s
condition.
Rely on Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City for comprehensive
care and treatment for a wide range of kidney-related conditions and cardiovascular
health affecting children, such as:
Acute kidney injury
Bladder dysfunction or infection
Chronic kidney disease
Congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tracts (CAKUT)
Solitary kidney, horseshoe kidney, hydronephrosis, kidney cysts, and others
Electrolyte abnormalities or fluid disorders
Genetic kidney disease
Glomerulonephritis and autoimmune diseases of the kidney
Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health offers the state's only dedicated
hemodialysis and outpatient peritoneal dialysis unit for children and
adolescents requiring acute or chronic dialysis.
If your child’s treatment plan calls for dialysis or
kidney transplant, trust the pediatric nephrology specialists and pediatric transplant team
at OU Health for top-quality care.
Through OU Health, you and your child gain access to Oklahoma’s only
health system with a dedicated hemodialysis and outpatient peritoneal
dialysis unit for children from newborn to college age who live with acute
renal failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or who experience acute
poisoning.
In addition, OU Health serves as Oklahoma’s only healthcare resource
that performs children’s kidney transplants at the only children’s
hospital in the five-state region to receive a silver medal from the
United Organ Sharing Network (UNOS) for renal transplant service. The dialysis unit is a part of The Standardizing
Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End-stage Renal Disease (SCOPE).
This nationwide partnership prevents infections in children and adolescents
on peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis using large-scale collaboration
to identify and spread effective interventions across pediatric care settings.
Organizations participating in SCOPE help families provide essential and
complex care in the home for children with kidney disease. The evidence
shows that patients at SCOPE centers:
Have reduced risk of infections
Have fewer hospitalizations
Maintain health for transplant
Maintain normal school and family life
Our six-bed dialysis unit is designed especially for kids. Our dialysis
nurses will do everything they can to make sure your child is comfortable
during their treatments because families often spend several days each
week at the dialysis unit. In addition to the nurses, our unit also has
a dedicated Child Life Specialist, who can help keep your child comfortable
and entertained. Your child will also have access to music and art therapy,
a schoolteacher, as well as psychological services if needed. Each chair
on the unit has its own TV and DVD player, and a video game system and
movies are available. Additional support is provided for your child and
family from social work and dietitian services, ensuring you receive the
full spectrum of care.
Dialysis
During dialysis, a machine does the work of the kidneys, removing excess
fluids and waste substances in the body. Dialysis is needed because the
kidneys are not functioning well enough to do these jobs on their own.
There are two types of dialysis:
Hemodialysis
Peritoneal dialysis
There are many differences between the two types of dialysis, with pros
and cons to each. Our medical team can help you determine which one is
best for your child and your family. We recognize that each child's needs
and circumstances are different, especially when it comes to dialysis.
Our specialized programs ensure that every child receives the best possible
care tailored to their specific situation.
Hospital-based (hemodialysis) dialysis
We offer hospital-based hemodialysis as an outpatient service. This program
ensures that children receive dialysis treatment with the full support
of our hospital resources. This includes access to our multidisciplinary
team and the latest technology to deliver effective treatment that is
comfortable for our patients. A few ounces of blood at a time are pumped
through a dialysis machine, where the blood is cleaned before it is returned
to the body. Our nurses have special training to help your child with
hemodialysis.
Home-based (peritoneal) dialysis
Understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy family life, we offer
peritoneal dialysis as an option for a child with a regular caregiver
who can give the treatment at home. This method helps families integrate
treatment into their daily routines. Our dialysis team provides comprehensive
training for children and their parents or caregivers, empowering them
to confidently manage dialysis treatments at home. Peritoneal dialysis
works by using the lining of the belly, called the peritoneum, as a filter.
A soft tube (catheter) is used to fill the belly with a cleansing liquid
called dialysis solution. Waste and extra fluid in the blood pass through
the lining of the belly into the dialysis fluid. The used dialysis fluid
then drains out through the catheter and is thrown away.
The Pediatric Outpatient Dialysis Unit is a Member of Health Services Advisory
Group (HSAG), Renal Network 13, one of 18 networks in the country established
by the federal government to improve the quality of dialysis and kidney
transplant services.
OU Health serves as Oklahoma’s only healthcare resource performing
children’s kidney transplants at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.
Hypertension in Children
At OU Health, we understand that hypertension, or high blood pressure,
in children can be a serious condition affecting their overall health.
When you choose OU Health, you and your child benefit from a team dedicated
to managing this condition to prevent long-term problems. High blood pressure
in kids can come from kidney disease, being overweight, or family history.
Symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and vision problems can be worrying,
but our team is here to help.
Treating Kidney Stones in Children
Kidney stones can cause significant pain and discomfort for children. At
OU Health, we offer specialized care to treat and prevent kidney stones,
ensuring your child feels better and stays healthy. Causes of kidney stones
include not drinking enough water, certain dietary factors, and some health
conditions. Symptoms to watch for include severe belly pain, blood in
urine, and frequent urination.
We use ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scans to find kidney stones
and ensure your child receives the best care to manage and prevent kidney
stones, helping them feel better and avoid future issues.
Camps for Kids with Chronic Kidney Conditions
Your child or adolescent can join camps co-sponsored by OU Health at outdoor
locations in Oklahoma.
Kamp Courage: Focuses on children with chronic kidney disease or myelomeningocele
Kamp Cavett: Welcomes children with chronic illnesses to a giant, diverse summertime adventure
Your Children's Nephrology Care Team
At OU Health, you and your child benefit from a pediatric nephrology team
focused on helping your child thrive while living with chronic or acute
kidney-related conditions. You’ll work with highly trained and experienced
pediatric nephrologists who actively participate in research studies in
cooperation with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Pediatric
Nephrology Research Consortium (PNRC), and the Standardized Care to Improve
Outcomes in Pediatric End-stage Renal Disease (SCOPE) dialysis collaborative.
Your expert team provides extensive guidance and psychological support
from diverse healthcare professionals, including nurses with pediatric-specific
training, dietitians,
pediatric pharmacists,
child psychologists, social workers, and
child life specialists. Everyone works together to create an optimal multidisciplinary care plan
to achieve the best possible kidney health outcomes for your child’s
particular situation.
Pediatric NephrologyOklahoma City, OKView Profile
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