Nephrology is the science that focuses on the kidneys, especially their function or disease. An estimated 14,000 children in the United States have kidney disease and approximately 5,000 of these have kidney failure and are on dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Of these patients, about 60 percent are 12 years or younger. Many children with kidney disease also face special growth and developmental challenges.

Our pediatric nephrologists offer a wide range of expertise in pediatric kidney diseases. We treat children with all types of kidney problems, kidney stones, high blood pressure and abnormalities in body fluids, salt and/or acid balance. Le Bonheur sees about 1,600 children per year on an outpatient basis. Our team of pediatric specialists includes nephrology nurses, dietitians, social workers and dialysis nurses who develop each child's treatment plan.

Our Dialysis Program
The Le Bonheur dialysis unit was the first pediatric dialysis unit in the Mid-South. It is the only dialysis program to serve children within a 100-mile radius of Memphis. When kidneys fail, harmful wastes build up in the body. When this happens, dialysis treatment is needed to replace the work of the failed kidneys.

Hemodialysis literally means "cleaning the blood," and that is exactly what this treatment does. Blood is circulated and filtered through a machine about the size of a dishwasher. Once wastes and excess water are removed, the cleaned blood is returned to the patient's bloodstream. Peritoneal dialysis uses a filtration process similar to hemodialysis, but the blood is cleaned inside the body rather than in a machine. Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure.

We have six stations for chronic hemodialyis, as well as a room for peritoneal dialysis teaching. Depending on the patient's needs, dialysis is performed three times per week for three to four hours at a time. Patients are encouraged to do school work the first hour of treatment, and then games or activities during the rest of treatment. A group of dedicated volunteers come in at different times to help with school work and play activities. For more information on the dialysis program, please call 901.287.6133.

Transplant
An average of 10 kidney transplants are performed per year by our transplant surgeons. An estimated 500 children per year visit the pediatric nephrology transplant clinic, and physicians are currently following up on 60 transplant patients. For more information on the Transplant Institute, please call 901.516.9183.

Pediatric Nephrology Clinic
Our pediatric nephrology clinic is held three times a week at the University of Tennessee Medical Group in Suite 110 in the Physicians Office Building. To make an appointment, please call 901.287.6073.

Find a Pediatric Nephrologist
Le Bonheur works with highly skilled, board-certified pediatric nephrologists. To find a physician, please click here.