India’s First 9.5-Hour Laparoscopic Ureteral Reconstruction Performed in Hyderabad

In a remarkable feat, recently a 52-year-old woman from Hyderabad, had her kidneys preserved through a pioneering 9.5-hour laparoscopic surgery by a team of doctors at Preeti Urology and Kidney Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The surgery said to be the first of its kind in India, is a milestone for minimally invasive urological treatment.

The woman had been fighting complications for years after undergoing a hysterectomy, which resulted in an extremely rare and serious situation: both of her ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, were destroyed along 35-centimeter of their length. This caused frequent infections and dangerously reduced kidney function. Her health was maintained temporarily using stents, but her overall condition was deteriorating.

During the assessment, Dr. V Chandramohan, who is the consultant urologist and managing director of the hospital, found that just the renal pelvis, which is the topmost part of the ureters closest to the kidneys, was still functional. "We had an extremely unusual case. Around the world, just nine such cases have been treated — all of them in China — and never in India before using an entirely laparoscopic technique," he said.

What makes this surgery even more remarkable is the approach taken. While conventional laparoscopic surgeries typically require three small incisions, this complex operation demanded 13 precise entry points. “We needed access from multiple angles due to the extensive damage. Using two 35-centimeter segments from the patient’s small intestine, we reconstructed new ureters and connected them from the kidneys to the bladder,” Dr. Chandramohan said.

As compared to conventional open surgery, involving longer incisions and longer recoveries, this keyhole approach minimizes trauma and accelerates healing. The whole reconstruction was performed using advanced laparoscopic equipment over close to 10 hours, a testament to skill and stamina.

Following the procedure, the patient’s recovery has been encouraging. Her kidney function has normalized, and creatinine levels, previously at dangerous levels, have returned to safe ranges. She is mobile again and steadily improving. “This level of surgical expertise and access to advanced tools is what allowed us to achieve such success. It’s a proud moment for Indian urology,” Dr. Chandramohan added.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)