KIMS Surgeons Perform Rare Kidney Stone Surgery on 14-Week Pregnant Woman, Save Both Lives
In a rare and technically challenging procedure, doctors at KIMS Hospital in Kurnool successfully removed a large kidney stone from a pregnant woman in her early second trimester, ensuring the safety of both mother and foetus.
According to Dr. Y. Manoj Kumar, Head of the Department of Urology and Senior Consultant Urologist, the patient was admitted with severe flank pain and fever. Diagnostic investigations revealed a 16-mm stone lodged in the renal pelvis. Although an ureteric stent had been placed at another hospital, her symptoms persisted, prompting a referral to KIMS Hospital.
A Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) was performed under general anaesthesia, and the stone was fragmented and completely removed using laser technology. The patient experienced complete relief from pain and fever following the procedure.
A follow-up scan conducted 10 days later confirmed complete clearance of the stone. The foetus was found to be healthy, with normal cardiac activity and growth parameters.
Kidney stones during pregnancy are relatively uncommon, occurring in only 0.03% to 0.5% of pregnancies worldwide. Most cases are managed conservatively or through temporary drainage procedures. However, performing definitive stone removal through RIRS at 14 weeks of pregnancy, particularly in the presence of persistent infection, is considered technically challenging.
The procedure was carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Y. Manoj Kumar. Their coordinated efforts ensured the safety of both the mother and the unborn child throughout the treatment process.
