One-year-old boy from Oman successfully undergoes first robot-assisted surgery in Bengaluru

A one-year-old boy from Oman underwent a rare robot-assisted surgery at a private hospital in Bengaluru to address a renal blockage, granting him a new lease on life.

According to the team of doctors, they encountered numerous challenges while operating on this young patient, as the infant's organs were extremely small and fragile, leaving minimal space for abdominal access.

Upon examination, it was discovered that the child's right kidney was abnormally enlarged, with only 24% of its functionality remaining.

Additionally, a significant accumulation of urine within the right kidney resulted from an obstruction at the juncture of the renal pelvis and the ureter.

Doctors observed that if left untreated, this condition, known as Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction (UPJ), could lead to a decline in kidney function.

Under the leadership of Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Senior Director of Urology, Andrology, Transplant, and Robotic Surgery at the hospital, a team of expert doctors successfully performed a robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty, combined with the insertion of a ureteral stent (commonly referred to as a double J stent).

Remarkably, this marked the first reported instance of robot-assisted surgery in a child as young as one year old in the field of medical science, as claimed by the hospital.

The robotic system's remarkable precision and the ability to provide accurate visualization played a pivotal role in enabling doctors to execute intricate maneuvers even in the case of such a young patient.