Damascus, Sept. 13 (SANA) Doctors at Tal National Hospital in Rural Damascus have successfully performed bilateral ureteral reimplantation on a 13-year-old boy with a rare congenital disorder and recurrent urinary tract infections, hospital doctors said.
The boy was diagnosed with Prune Belly syndrome, a rare condition affecting the abdominal muscles and urinary system, as well as vesicoureteral reflux, which causes urine to flow backward from the bladder toward the kidneys.
Dr. Samer Bashir, a specialist in general and pediatric surgery, told SANA that the condition had caused repeated urinary tract infections that failed to respond to conservative treatment, prompting doctors to opt for surgery.
About two weeks before the operation, the medical team inserted double-J stents into both ureters to help control the infection and maintain urine drainage from the kidneys. Follow-up tests showed improvement, clearing the way for surgery, Bashir said.
A joint team from the hospital’s pediatric surgery and urology departments then reimplanted both ureters into the bladder using the Cohen technique. The procedure took about two hours and was completed successfully.
Dr. Maher Ghaya, a urology specialist, said the technique is commonly used in children undergoing ureteral reimplantation and helps preserve the blood supply to the ureters while reducing the risk of injury.
Vesicoureteral reflux can cause recurrent urinary tract infections and progressive kidney damage when severe cases requiring intervention are left untreated, potentially leading to chronic kidney disease, Bashir said.
Doctors said the operation also reflected the growing ability of the public hospital to carry out specialized procedures and provide practical training for resident physicians.
Tal National Hospital has undergone a series of upgrades in recent months. In February, Health Minister Musab al-Ali and Rural Damascus Governor Amer al-Sheikh inaugurated new medical departments and rehabilitated facilities at the hospital.
The improvements were supported by community contributions and medical equipment provided by the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) and Al-Ameen Organization as part of efforts to expand and improve healthcare services.
R.H/Abd
