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Transitional care in urology: the road to independence

Nature Reviews Urology volume 19, pages 691–692 (2022)Cite this article

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Transition from child-centred to adult-centred care is a crucial step for patients with a congenital urological disease. The aims are clear: preserving kidney function, continence, sexuality and fertility. No universal model for this process has been defined, but, while research continues, attention to individual patient’s needs will ensure the best results.

Often described as “the purposeful, planned movement of adolescents and young adults with chronic physical and medical conditions from child-centered to adult-oriented health-care systems”1, transitional care has become a key element in modern paediatric urology. Continuous improvement in the treatment of severe urological paediatric conditions has led to increased survival, but new health-care needs have also emerged. However, in most developed countries, these needs have collided with a highly specialized health-care system, in which paediatric care is completely separated from adult care. Thus, several models have been proposed to bridge this gap, providing access to lifelong specialized care and reducing the burden of consequences of the congenital disease and, often, the treatments received. As a common experience for people with congenital diseases, the transition process should maximize quality of life and independence. In the urological context, the specific scopes are to preserve renal function, improve urinary continence, prepare and maintain sexuality and fertility, monitor sequelae of the condition and the interventions received, and help the adult patients in decision-making2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Urology Unit, Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova, Padova, Italy

    Alessandro Morlacco, Marta Bianco & Fabrizio Dal Moro

  2. Department of Surgical, Oncological and GE sciences (DISCOG), Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy

    Alessandro Morlacco & Fabrizio Dal Moro

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  1. Alessandro Morlacco
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  2. Marta Bianco
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  3. Fabrizio Dal Moro
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Correspondence to Alessandro Morlacco.

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Morlacco, A., Bianco, M. & Dal Moro, F. Transitional care in urology: the road to independence. Nat Rev Urol 19, 691–692 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-022-00653-7

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