Through the complex two-stage surgical intervention, doctors of Pune successfully restored the urinary function of a 28-year-old woman. The woman, who had lost her urinary bladder control due to an autoimmune tumor, was subjected to a urological reconstruction surgery at UroKul-Kulkarni UroSurgery Institute, Baner, in collaboration with Umarji Hospital, Baner.
Anjali, a young woman from Mumbai, was diagnosed with the rare urinary condition in 2022, following which she had her urinary tract reconstructed with the help of medical professionals. The innovative medical intervention involved the implantation of a new urinary tract and an artificial sphincter, making it India's first-of-its-kind medical success. The patient was able to overcome her adverse medical condition and later conceive to give birth to a child.
The medical success was discussed at a press conference held at UroKul Hospital, Baner, Pune, Maharashtra, where experts, including the renowned urologist Dr. Sanjay Kulkarni, the world's first female laparoscopic surgeon Dr. Jyotsna Kulkarni, gynaecologist Dr. Chinmay Umarji were present.
The patient was first diagnosed with an autoimmune tumor between her urinary tract and vaginal canal in 2022. The anatomical anomaly led to the complete dissolution of her urethra which had forced her to rely on 10–12 diapers daily due to continuous urine leakage. Once treatments such as antibiotics and immunotherapy did not help to improve her condition, she underwent a two-stage surgery. The initial surgery was performed in April 2022, in which a new urinary tract was reconstructed using vaginal tissue (vaginal flap urethroplasty), restoring the ability to pass urine but without bladder control. To ensure bladder control, a second surgical procedure was conducted in October 2022, in which an artificial urinary sphincter was implanted between the urinary tract and vaginal canal. Urinary sphincter is a muscle that controls the flow of urine out of the bladder.
Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is made of three parts: urethral cuff, pump, and balloon. To urinate with an AUS, one must squeeze the pump in the scrotum. The pump moves fluid from the urethral cuff into the balloon which allows the cuff to open or deflate and your urethra to open. The cuff will stay open for about 3 minutes so that the person can urinate and it will close automatically. [1]
The surgery enabled patient to regain complete function of the urinary system. She later got married, conceived naturally, and delivered a healthy baby boy.
Reference:
1. “About Your Artificial Urinary Sphincter | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.” 2019. Www.mskcc.org. October 18, 2019. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/artificial-urinary-sphincter. (Accessed on February 19, 2025)
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Jithin Paul/MSM)