12mm kidney stones successfully removed from one year old infant
Chennai, Sep 7 : Experts at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) on Wednesday announced that it has achieved a remarkable milestone in medical history by successfully treating
a one-year-old infant from Salem district of Tamil Nadu for a complicated kidney stone removal through a procedure called supine mini PCNL laser treatment.
In August, the baby was presented with blood in the urine and a CT scan revealed a sizeable 12mm stone in the left kidney. Talking to reporters here, AINU Managing Director and Chief Urologist Dr.Arun Kumar, Executive Director Dr.Venkatsubramaniam and Paediatric Urologist Dr.Ramesh Babu said despite the challenges posed by the tender age, they embarked on a ground-breaking minimally invasive laser
treatment.
The significance of this procedure lies in the precision and innovation involved in treating a one-year-old toddler.
Dr.Arun Kumar said “Mini PCNL is a procedure where the kidney is punctured using instruments one third the size of those used for adults and this technique is not widely accessible.
The treatment involved employing a tiny puncture from the back of the kidney. Utilizing state-of-the-art laser technology, the medical team successfully fragmented the stone, achieving complete clearance. This
approach allowed us to provide relief to the child, while avoiding the complexities associated with repositioning the patient during anaesthesia, he said.
Dr.Venkatsubramaniam emphasized the innovation of achieving results like conventional percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) without rotating the patient during anaesthesia.
“The entire procedure was performed with the patient lying flat, a testament to our commitment to innovation and patient-centric care”, he added.
Dr Ramesh Babu said this case possibly marks the youngest instance of ‘supine mini PCNL’ performed in southern India.
“We are proud to have successfully accomplished this procedure, setting a new milestone in the field of paediatric urology”, he said.
The procedure employed was a minimally invasive laser treatment known as mini PCNL with laser lithotripsy’. This technique involves using a thin tube with a miniature camera (paediatric nephroscope)
to visualize the stone within the urinary tract.
The laser is then carefully applied to break the stone into smaller fragments, allowing for easier passage and removal from the body. The baby has been discharged within two days from the date of surgery and has shown speedy signs of post recovery, he said.
