Nephrology Section

Nephrology at Riley Hospital for Children

Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Medical Center, provides the state's only comprehensive evaluation and treatment services for children with kidney disease or kidney failure. Our pediatric nephrologist, urologists and dialysis nurses work together to provide highly specialized and expert care.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Our services include renal biopsies to diagnose kidney disorders, acute hemodialysis (kidney machines) and peritoneal dialysis for patients with acute kidney failure or poisonings, and chronic hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis for children in permanent kidney failure. Chronic hemodialysis is provided through traditional kidney machines in the Pediatric Dialysis Center at Riley Hospital. Training for chronic continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) is available to allow the child to be cared for at home.

The Newest Hemodialysis Technology

Our Pediatric Dialysis Center also offers a new form of dialysis called continuous veno-venous hemofiltration or CVVH. Our nephrology team has adapted this technology, which has been used with great success in adults, to provide better care for critically ill children with sudden onset kidney failure.

A Leader in Kidney Transplantation

Since 1961, IU Medical Center has led the state in organ transplantation. Kidney transplants are one of the seven organ transplantation programs available at IU Medical Center for both adults and children. Overall, more than one thousand kidney transplants have been performed at IU Medical Center and our pediatric nephrologists work as a team with our surgical specialists before and after the transplant operation. Some of the conditions and diseases evaluated and treated by our pediatric nephrologists include the following:

• Acute and chronic kidney failure
• Blood in the urine
• Protein in the urine
• High blood pressure
• Urinary tract infections
• Structural abnormalities of the kidneys and lower urinary tract
• Kidney Stones
• Bedwetting
• Poisoning which can be treated by hemodialysis

For Consultations or Referrals:

IMACS (Indiana Medical Access and Communication System) is a toll-free, direct line that gives you, the healthcare professional, and your office staff prompt access to IU faculty physicians for clinical consultations, patient referrals, patient information, or the latest research protocols. Simply call: (317) 916-3500 or 1-800-622-4989, or you can fax the physicians office directly (317) 278-3599.

In addition to connecting you with our clinical specialties, IMACS can connect you to: the Ruth Lilly Medical Library & Research Building; the IUPUI Medical Bookstore; the Clarian LifeLine Helicopter; the Newborn Intensive Care Vans and Continuing Medical Education. IMACS physician resource specialists are trained professionals who will expertly direct your call, even if you are not certain whom to ask for. Clarian Health Partners operates IMACS, and they follow detailed guidelines, established by our medical staff, to help you select the most appropriate person or area.

IMACS specialists will stay with you on the line until your call is complete to ensure you receive the information you need. They can transfer your call to a different area or help you make multiple contacts with just one call.

For routine consultations or referrals, please call IMACS Monday-Friday from 8am until 5:30pm. For emergency consultations or referrals, IMACS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

[Keyword: kidney disease, kidney failure, Nephrology, nephrologist, urologist, dialysis, renal biopsies, kidney disorders, hemodialysis, kidney machines, peritoneal dialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, CAPD, continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis, CCPD, continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, CVVH, Kidney transplants, blood in the urine, protein in the urine, high blood pressure, Urinary tract infections, structural abnormalities of the kidneys and lower urinary tract, kidney stones, bedwetting, poisoning ]