HOW DO MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNOLOGIES HELP CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL URINARY TRACT PATHOLOGIES?

A diagnosis of “obstructive megaureter” can be alarming for parents. In newborns with this condition, the ureter, which should be thin and elastic, becomes dilated, obstructing normal urine flow in its lower segment. This can lead to severe health complications and kidney dysfunction. However, modern technologies and surgical expertise offer hope for full recovery, even in complex cases.

Our Patient’s Story

Sasha (name changed), now just over a year old, was diagnosed at birth. Pediatric specialists closely monitored the child’s condition, noting the dilation of kidney structures and the ureter, along with changes in urine tests. In some children, such pathologies show a tendency to resolve spontaneously as they grow, making surgery unnecessary. However, in Sasha’s case, the condition progressed: the ureter’s diameter continued to increase, necessitating medical intervention.

Sasha’s family decided to seek consultation at the specialized pediatric department of the N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

The Surgery

A surgical team from the N. Lopatkin SRIUIR, led by Professor Yuri Rudin, head of the pediatric urology group, opted for a minimally invasive approach to treat the patient. The chosen method involved ureteral reimplantation using an open technique. This modern approach involves performing the procedure through small punctures in the bladder wall, minimizing tissue trauma, reducing the risk of complications, and accelerating recovery.

“During the operation, we mobilized the narrowed section of the ureter, removed it, and reimplanted the ureter into the bladder with anti-reflux protection to ensure the dilation resolves,” explained the operating surgeon, Professor Rudin. To ensure proper urine drainage, a special stent was placed in the ureter. This tube will remain in the child’s body for several weeks before being removed.

The surgery was successful. Surgeons expect that once the stent is removed, the child’s condition will stabilize, and the ureter’s dilation will gradually decrease. If all goes as planned, the one-year-old will soon leave these health issues behind.

“Minimally invasive surgeries minimize tissue trauma, which leads to faster recovery. Additionally, the risk of complications is significantly lower. The open approach allows surgeons to work with exceptional precision, which is crucial when dealing with the small anatomical structures of children,” emphasized Professor Rudin.