A three-month-old boy has become the youngest patient in the world to undergo surgery to remove obstructions in the kidneys.
Journalists in India revealed in May that doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Dehli said they had removed obstructions from both of the boy’s kidneys during a two-hour bilateral laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure.
The minimally invasive surgical technique was performed in December 2022 and the patient was discharged three days after the procedure.
Three months later the doctors performed a renogram to ascertain that the operation had been successful.
In a statement released by AIIMS, the doctors said: “The successful surgery not only showcases AIIMS’ commitment to cutting-edge paediatric surgical care but also highlights the institute’s expertise in anaesthesia considerations, resulting in the child’s discharge within just three days.”
Speaking about the baby, AIIMS added: “The use of a miniature camera inserted through the belly button improved cosmesis, while additional incisions were strategically placed to facilitate surgeries on both sides without sharing the same incisions.”
During the procedure, the team reconstructed the obstructed ureteropelvic junction using microscopic sutures and fine instruments.
AIIMS said this procedure on such a young patient also required careful considerations regarding anaesthesia.
AIIMS’ statement added that the laparoscopic approach had also eliminated the need for future surgery for the child.
It said: “Under the leadership and guidance of Dr M Bajpai, Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery, the department has increasingly employed laparoscopic techniques to treat such conditions.
“Traditionally, these surgeries were performed sequentially, requiring separate surgeries for each affected kidney.”
