Smile has returned to frail-looking K. Kalpana’s face after three years of excruciating abdominal pain triggered by a calculus in the kidney, thanks to a minimum invasive procedure done by doctors of Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TVMCH).
When the 19-year-old girl, daughter of Kaalai, a brick kiln worker in Sernthamaram village, complained of abdominal pain, her father tried a few home remedies.
When the pain increased even after spending a few thousands of rupees, the poor father took the girl to a private hospital. A scan taken there revealed the kidney housing a calculus of 1 cm size.
“When the doctors said that I have to spend up to Rs. 40,000 for removing it, I brought my daughter to TVMCH, where the surgery was performed on February 24,” said Mr. Kaalai.
Doctors led by S.M. Kannan, Head, Department of Urology, confirmed the ailment. Though this department used to perform open surgery for removing renal stones that required prolonged hospital stay and involved post-operative pain, this time the doctors decided to go for an advanced two-hour surgery for the first time.
“With equipment such as c-arm, nephroscope and lithoclast procured under Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme, we opted for a minimum invasive procedure for removing the calculus,” said Dr. Kannan.
He said that less intake of water and hard water with certain salts were the prime reasons for this problem, which had a 50 per cent chance of recurrence.
“Because of the advanced treatment, the patient will have less post-operative pain and no lengthy scar. She will be discharged from the hospital in the shortest possible time,” said Dean L.D. Thulasiram.
He wants to take this procedure to the next level by procuring more advanced gadgets for which proposals had been sent, he said.
She had abdominal pain due to calculus in kidney
