Max Hospital, Lucknow Doctors Give New Lease of Life to 19-Month-Old Child from Nepal with Rare Congenital Kidney and Gallbladder Disorders

The child was diagnosed with a horseshoe kidney, a congenital condition in which the two kidneys are fused together forming a horseshoe-like structure. Along with this, the toddler also had bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO)—a condition that blocks the normal flow of urine from both kidneys. This led to severe swelling of the kidneys, occupying a major portion of the abdominal cavity and placing the child at high risk of kidney failure. Compounding the condition further, the child was also found to have gallbladder stones and a stone in the common bile duct (CBD)—a combination rarely seen in infants.

Despite consultations at multiple medical centres in Nepal, the child was considered too young and the condition too complex for surgical intervention. The family then approached Max Hospital, Lucknow, renowned for its expertise in advanced paediatric urology and minimally invasive surgery.

Explaining the severity of the case, Dr Rahul Yadav, Director – Urology, Andrology, Kidney Transplant & Robotic Uro-Oncology, Max Hospital, Lucknow, said,When the child arrived at our hospital, both kidneys were massively enlarged, occupying most of the abdominal cavity. Performing surgery in such a small child with extremely limited working space is exceptionally challenging. Therefore, we planned a single-anaesthetic, multidisciplinary surgical approach.”

During the four-hour surgery, the urology team performed laparoscopic procedures to relieve the obstruction in both kidneys and placed stents to ensure smooth urine drainage. Simultaneously, the gastro-surgery team carried out laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder, while the gastroenterology team managed the CBD stone medically and remained prepared for endoscopic intervention if required.

Highlighting the importance of coordination, Dr Ajay Yadav, Director & Head – Robotic Surgery, Gastro Surgery & GI Oncology, Max Hospital, Lucknow, said,By using the same laparoscopic ports created for the urology procedure, we were able to perform the gallbladder surgery without making additional incisions. This avoided multiple surgeries and repeated anaesthesia in such a young child, ensuring minimal trauma and faster recovery.”

Despite the extreme complexity of the condition and the child’s small abdominal size, the surgery was completely successful. Feeding was resumed within 12 hours, and the child was discharged in just four days with an excellent recovery.

Emphasising the significance of timely treatment, Dr M. U. Hasan, Director & HOD – Department of Paediatrics & Neonatology, Max Hospital, Lucknow, said,This child was at very high risk. Without timely surgical intervention, both growth and survival could have been severely compromised. Today, the child has a real opportunity to live a normal and healthy life.” This rare and successful case highlights Max Hospital, Lucknow’s leadership in advanced paediatric urology, minimally invasive surgery, and multidisciplinary team-based care.