Text or call: (702) 728-5686
Children are not just small adults. They cannot always say what is bothering them. They cannot always answer medical questions, and are not always able to be patient and cooperative during a medical examination. Dr. Hwang is specially trained to examine and treat children in a way that makes them relaxed and cooperative. We use equipment specially designed for children and we arrange and decorate our office with children in mind. We have toys, music, and reading materials for children. This helps create a comfortable and nonthreatening environment for your child.
If your pediatrician suggests that your child see Dr. Hwang, a board-certified pediatric urologist, you can be assured that he has the widest range of treatment options, the most extensive and comprehensive training, and the greatest expertise in dealing with children and in treating children’s genital and urinary tract disorders.
Office Procedures
We perform certain procedures in the office when appropriate. The advantages of being able to do these procedures in the office include the avoidance of general anesthesia for the child, less lost time from work for parents, and significant cost savings for the family.
Please understand that the procedure may not be done on the same day of the office visit as the child may need some preparation at home.
- Neonatal circumcision (up to 6-7 weeks or 10-12 lbs)
- Lysis of penile adhesions
- Lysis of labial fusion
Surgical Procedures done in a surgical facility
Most surgical procedures in children are performed under general anesthesia at an appropriate age when the child can easily recover from the anesthesia. In this setting, the child will not experience any discomfort during the procedure, as any potentially painful procedure, including insertion of the IV, are only done after the child has gone to sleep with medication given through a mask. When appropriate, the child will be given a regional anesthetic block to keep the surgical area from hurting for another 6 to 8 hours.
Commonly, these are done on an outpatient basis, which means the child goes home the same day of surgery. More complicated cases, such as reconstructive surgeries on the ureter and bladder, typically need 1-2 nights of recovery and observation in the hospital.
If your child is having surgery under general anesthesia, it is imperative that pre-operative instructions are followed carefully. If you have any questions regarding such instructions, please do not hesitate to call our office.
The following is a partial list of some of the more common pediatric urologic surgeries performed by Dr. Hwang:
Genital surgeries
- Circumcision, circumcision revision, repair of concealed penis, excision of circumcision scars
- Hypospadias repair, meatoplasty, correction of penile curvature/chordee/torsion, urethroplasty
- Orchiopexy, hydrocelectomy, varicocelectomy
Urinary tract surgeries
- Ureteral reimplantation (single or double ureter, tapering, etc)
- Pyeloplasty
- Bladder diverticulectomy, excision of urachal remnant
- Endoscopic surgeries (cystoscopy, urethral calibration, ablation of posterior urethral valves, incision of ureteroceles, extraction of urinary stones, laser treatment of urinary tract stones, etc.)
The following educational materials are provided to help you better understand your child’s condition.
Common Urological Conditions in Children
General
- Urinary tract infection (kidshealth)
- Blood in the urine (UpToDate) (NKF)
- Enuresis — bedwetting (kidshealth) (UpToDate)
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary frequency and/or urgency
- Spina bifida and other causes of neurogenic bladder
Kidney, Ureter, Bladder, and Urethra
- Hydronephrosis — urine distending the kidney (NIDDK)
- Vesicoureteral reflux (abnormal backflow of urine to the kidney from bladder) (urologyhealth.org)
- Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) (eMedicine)
- Ureterocele (wiki)
- Obstructed Megaureter (UVJ obstruction)
- Posterior Urethral Valves (wiki) (eMedicine)
- Ectopic, crossed-fused, or horse-shoe kidney
- Multi Cystic Dysplastic Kidney (MCKD)
- Duplication Abnormalities (double kidney or ureter) (wiki)
- Bladder Exstrophy
Groin and Genital area
- Phimosis/Paraphimosis (wiki)
- Concealed or buried penis (wiki)
- Hypospadias (abnormally low opening of the urinary opening) (wiki)
- Testicular pain (wiki)
- Testicular torsion (kidshealth)
- Scrotal swelling
- Undescended testis (cryptorchidism)
- Varicocele (wiki)
- Ambiguous genitalia
* The information provided by the external websites is the property and responsibility of the respective websites, without input or endorsement from Dr. Hwang. The websites may contain medical information, illustrations, or photographs that are not suitable for young children. Parental discretion is advised.