NephroNICU

The NephroNICU program leverages the talents from nationally-ranked SMCH specialties including Neonatology, Pediatric Nephrology, Transplant Surgery, Pediatric Urology, and Pediatric Interventional Radiology, and NICU Nursing. Our Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program coordinates care when congenital kidney disorders are detected prenatally, with seamless continuity of care in our NephroNICU after birth. Babies with congenital or acquired renal failure are cared for by our multidisciplinary team, which also includes specialized nurses, clinical nutritionists, rehabilitation services, and social workers dedicated to the NephroNICU. When a baby is anticipated to require long term dialysis and kidney transplant, the experts in our Pediatric Kidney Transplant program at SMCH are involved while the baby is still in the NICU, resulting in seamless transitions in care after discharge from the hospital.

The NephroNICU Program was formally established in 2023, though its origin story began ten years prior when the first patient born without both kidneys was treated at SMCH and survived. While many children’s hospitals are only able to offer peritoneal dialysis for larger babies, our care teams have developed innovative techniques for kidney replacement therapy in very low birthweight babies (less than 1.5 kg).