Agartala, Sept 20: At only four days old, a newborn in Agartala faced a condition seen in fewer than one in thousands of births worldwide — and was saved by a two-hour surgery at Tripura Medical College.
Born on September 8 at Tripura Medical College & Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital, the baby boy of Pinki Pal (26) and Arnab Chanda of A.D. Nagar, Agartala, was diagnosed with Posterior Urethral Valve (PUV) and a duplex kidney system — a combination that doctors say is exceptionally rare.
Speaking exclusively to Ukhrul Times, Superspecialist Pediatric and Neonatal Surgeon Dr. Aniruddha Basak, who performed the operation, explained the uniqueness of the case.
“The incidence of Posterior Urethral Valve alone is one in 25,000 live male births, while the incidence of a duplex kidney is just 0.7%. But the combined incidence of PUV and duplex is very, very rare,” he said.
Also read | Tripura Doctors Save Newborn with Rare 1kg Tumor After Complex Surgery
The newborn was only four days old when doctors intervened.“Both kidneys were equally affected, with a very thin cortex and hugely dilated pelvis and ureters. On top of that, the baby had a duplex system on the right side, which made it even more complicated,” Dr. Basak explained.
Despite the odds, the operation was successful. “The baby now has a normal functioning right kidney as well as a normal functioning left kidney. The aim of neonatal and pediatric surgery is always to restore normal physiology, and in this case, we have been able to achieve that,” he said.
The surgeon described the challenges faced during the two-hour surgery. “It required meticulous dissection and very careful handling of tissues. The anesthesia itself is a major challenge in such a small patient,” he told Ukhrul Times.
On the child’s future, Dr. Basak expressed optimism. “Hopefully, yes — the baby should be able to lead a normal life,” he said.
Also read | Rare Gastroschisis Case Successfully Treated at Tripura Medical College
Asked about facilities at the hospital, he was candid. “Tripura Medical College has many of the necessary equipments, but a lot is still missing. We are trying to upgrade so that such complex operations can be handled more smoothly,” Dr. Basak admitted.
He also offered important advice for parents. “These anomalies are not uncommon and can be detected through antenatal ultrasound scans. Parents should ensure delivery takes place in a hospital where pediatric surgery facilities are available,” he advised.
The baby is now stable, passing urine normally, and is expected to be discharged on Monday.