A COVID positive patient successfully underwent bilateral kidney stone surgery(the display image should support this HL)

Bengaluru, August 05, 2020: In a rare scenario, a 62 year COVID-positive patient successfully underwent a bilateral kidney stone surgery at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road. The patient had stones in both the kidneys one of which had entered the left ureter and required immediate surgery. The patient had undergone two Angioplasties earlier and was on blood thinners. The team of doctors led by Dr Mohan Keshavamurthy, Director Urology, Uro-Oncology, Andrology, Transplant & Robotic Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Bangalore  painstakingly performed a lifesaving surgery on the patient as any delay would have put his life at risk.

This emergency surgery was possible because of specialised OT infrastructure for COVID cases with a special corridor for transport of patient and a separate area for donning and doffing of PPE for health care personnel at Fortis hospital. The patient was further managed for COVID with medication and supportive care by the COVID care doctors.

The patient had visited the hospital with unbearable pain in the lower abdomen and had difficulty while urinating. He had a history of loose stool since past two days and is also a known patient of Ischemic heart disease.  He successfully underwent Holmium laser lithotripsy which is a method for using lasers to remove stones that are located in the urinary tract. 

As compared to regular patients, patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 need more frequent postoperative follow-up checks, and comorbidities need to be dealt with more actively, as the mortality rate for patients with COVID-19 with several comorbidities is higher than for those without comorbidities.

Dr Karthik Rao, Consultant Urology, Uro-Oncology, Andrology, Transplant & Robotic Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Bangalore, said “We had to prepare for the surgery immediately as the patient’s condition was deteriorating. As a routine protocol at Fortis Hospital, a sample was collected and sent for COVID testing. The results arrived on the day of surgery indicating that the patient was COVID positive. The patient did not had any respiratory symptoms and did not require oxygen support, hence left retrograde intrarenal surgery with bilateral double J stenting was performed. Performing surgery on COVID positive patients is challenging and technically demanding than usual surgeries as it poses high chances of transmission of virus to the healthcare workers. The doctors and paramedical staff wore protective gear (PPE) and followed strict infection prevention protocols in order to be safe from the virus transmission. The patient withstood the procedure and was shifted to COVID ward for his COVID treatment. Patient gradually improved and was discharged in the stable condition.”

Specialities

Neurology

Urology

Gastroenterology

Orthopaedic

Hematology

Transplant programme