Rare Duplex Kidney Injury: How Visakhapatnam Doctors Restored Teen’s Kidney Function

Visakhapatnam: Doctors at KIMS ICON Hospital, Visakhapatnam, successfully managed an extremely rare and complex kidney injury in a 17-year-old boy, highlighting the critical role of timely diagnosis, advanced imaging, and precise surgical intervention in unusual trauma cases.

The patient, identified as Palle Ravichandra Kumar from the Anakapalli region, was brought to the hospital following a road traffic accident, presenting with severe abdominal pain. Upon admission, the medical team conducted a detailed clinical evaluation and advanced imaging studies, which revealed a Pelvi-Ureteric Junction (PUJ) avulsion—a complete disruption between the renal pelvis and the ureter.

What made this case particularly rare was the discovery that the injury had occurred in a duplex kidney. A duplex kidney is a congenital anomaly where a single kidney possesses two separate urinary drainage systems. Such blunt trauma-induced injuries in duplex kidneys are exceedingly uncommon, making this case exceptionally unique.

The unusual nature of the injury was further compounded by the fact that no other abdominal organs were affected, allowing the team to focus solely on the kidney repair.

Given the complexity of the injury and the altered anatomy associated with the duplex kidney, the medical team opted for immediate surgical intervention.

A team led by Dr. Sandeep Maheshwar Reddy Kallam, Consultant Urologist, Laparoscopic Uro-Oncologist, and Andrologist at KIMS ICON Hospital, along with Dr. Murali Krishna and Dr. Siva Sai Bharadwaj, performed delicate reconstructive surgery aimed at restoring urinary flow while preserving kidney function.

“The duplex kidney presented unique challenges and required precise surgical handling to ensure proper reconstruction without compromising renal function,” explained the doctors. The procedure involved careful dissection and meticulous reattachment of the renal pelvis to the ureter to re-establish normal urinary drainage.

Post-surgery, the patient responded well to treatment, showed steady recovery, and was discharged in a stable condition. The doctors emphasized that the successful outcome was the result of early recognition of the injury, the use of state-of-the-art imaging techniques, and the coordinated efforts of an experienced surgical team.

This case underscores the importance of rapid intervention and specialized care in managing rare and complex urological trauma, particularly in patients with congenital anatomical variations like a duplex kidney.