Transitional care in pediatric urology

The transition from childhood to adolescence and into adulthood occurs as a natural component of human development. As children progress through school and gain independence, health care practitioners must facilitate a parallel transition from pediatric to adult providers. Modern medicine has succeeded in extending the life expectancy for many children with complex conditions, and adult providers are participating in their medical care through adulthood. Transitioning pediatric urology care to adult urology care is unique to every individual and his or her underlying condition, while the transition process is universal. The objectives of all pediatric urologists include preservation of the kidneys and lower urinary tracts, safe urine storage, safe urine drainage, urinary continence, fertility, sexual function, and genital cosmesis. For some children, these objectives can be attained during childhood, while other children require lifelong maintenance and management. Children with posterior urethral valves, exstrophy-epispadias complex, cloaca, vesicoureteral reflux, neurogenic bladder, disorders of sex development, cancer, hypospadias, nephrolithiasis, undescended testes, varicoceles, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, solitary kidney, and upper tract anomalies all require long-term evaluation and management. The obstacles of altering a patient and caregiver paradigm, locating adult urologists with special expertise, coordinating care with other adult specialties such as nephrology, and navigating the adult health care environment can impede the transition process.