SRINAGAR: The Department of Urology at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar’s Super Speciality Hospital has achieved a significant medical milestone by successfully performing the first Primary Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) on a 5-year-old child in Jammu and Kashmir. The surgery was conducted to treat a 2 cm renal stone using a minimally invasive technique.
RIRS is an advanced endoscopic procedure that allows surgeons to remove kidney stones through the natural urinary passage without any external incisions. This method utilises a flexible ureterorenoscope and a laser lithotripsy tool to precisely fragment and remove the stones. The procedure is renowned for its high success rate and minimal recovery time.
The young patient was admitted to the Urology Department at GMC Srinagar with symptoms of severe abdominal pain and difficulty in urination. After thorough diagnostic evaluations, the urology team identified a large renal stone. Considering the child’s age and the stone’s size, the department opted for RIRS as the safest and most effective treatment option.
Prof (Dr) Syed Sajjad Nazir, the lead urologist in this case, explained, “Performing RIRS on such a young patient presented unique challenges, but our team was well-prepared. The procedure was completed successfully, and the patient responded very well. We are proud to have set this precedent in the region.”
Post-surgery, the patient was closely monitored and discharged the next day without any complications. The minimally invasive nature of RIRS ensured that the child experienced minimal discomfort and a swift recovery.
“This achievement underscores our commitment to providing cutting-edge medical care. We are dedicated to advancing urological treatments and improving patient outcomes through innovative techniques like RIRS,” he said.
Principal/Dean, GMC Srinagar, Prof (Dr) Iffat Hassan Shah, congratulated the department for this feat.
Dr Iffat appreciated the hard work and dedication shown by the department in patient care, world-class surgeries, and academic zeal. She said, “The latest state-of-the-art surgeries are being done in the department with high quality.”
Dr Jehangir Bakhshi, the Medical Superintendent of SSH said that Government Medical College Srinagar’s Super Speciality Hospital is a leading healthcare institution committed to providing state-of-the-art medical services.
RIRS is a state-of-the-art procedure for managing renal stones. Since 2019, the department has performed approximately 1,000 RIRS cases in adult patients (simple as well as complex). RIRS is comparatively easier in adults due to the adequate calibre of the ureter compared to the paediatric age group (average size 3.8mm).
Dr Tanveer Iqbal, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, said, “Paediatric renal calculi were managed with MiniPCNL and ESWL until now in the department, but PCNL carries the risk of post-operative bleeding, longer recovery periods, and longer time to return to normal activity as the procedure is invasive. RIRS, however, has the advantages of negligible bleeding, faster recovery, and shorter time to return to normal activity. This paediatric patient, being from a far-off place, was managed with RIRS, discharged early in normal condition, and resumed schooling early.”
