RISK AND WIN. SURGEONS AT NMRRC HELPED THE PATIENT RETURN TO A FULL LIFE WITHOUT PAIN AND DISCOMFORT.

Three years ago, a 41-year-old patient Elena from a small village in the Orenburg region faced a serious problem during a routine checkup she was found to have large neoplasms in her ovaries: in the right 10 cm in diameter, in the left 8 cm, for which she underwent extirpation of the uterus with appendages, i.e. complete removal.

After the operation, new problems of complications arose in the form of the formation of a purulent focus near the right kidney and the inconsistency of sutures, tissues. “Roughly speaking, the internal organs tended to go out through the sutures, says Elena. Doctors did their best to repeat the operation to prevent complications, but despite their persistence and their desire to help me, we could not avoid the consequences”.

A little later, a new challenge awaited the woman. The kidney was blocked due to a narrowing of the ureter. This pathology affects the normal outflow of urine and leads to partial or complete impairment of kidney function. To stop dangerous complications, surgeons had to install a nephrostomy special catheter in the kidney: a drainage tube, one end of which is placed in the renal pelvis, and the second end is taken outside and connected to a urine bag. This brought constant discomfort, both physical and social: pain, skin irritation, increased likelihood of infections, and the need for meticulous nephrostomy care. Unfortunately, local medical resources were exhausted and Elena needed the help of federal level specialists. Despite the fact that over the years of treatment the patient had almost lost faith in success, she still risked going to the capital.

The woman was referred to the N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology (SRIUIR) –  the branch of the FSBI “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The specialists of the Oncourology Department had to solve two serious problems: to remove the nephrostoma and to dilate the ureter for free passage of urine. During a thorough follow-up examination, in addition to the obvious complications, the diagnosticians found another problem: a stone in the ureter. After a multidisciplinary consultation, the specialists of the department developed a specific surgical treatment plan.

The surgical intervention took place under the supervision of Dr. Dmitry Merinov, Head of the Endourology Group of the Department of General and Reconstructive Urology. During the operation, which lasted only one hour, the specialists managed to remove a stone in the ureter and restore the natural outflow of urine from the kidney into the bladder. This will allow the young woman to forget about her disease and finally return to a full life without constant discomfort and pain.

“To date, our patient has been completely free of post-operative drains, her urination has been restored and there are no stones in her ureter. She no longer experiences the discomfort that has accompanied her for several years and feels great. Both we and our heroine are happy with the results of the surgery. We let her go home with a feeling of complete satisfaction from the work done,” Vladislav Stakanov, the patient’s attending physician and urologist, shared.