Agartala, Sept 24: In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at Tripura Medical College (TMC), Hapania, successfully performed a rare and complex kidney surgery on a four-day-old newborn, saving the child’s life.
According to family sources, the baby’s father, Arnab Chandra of Milan Sangha, revealed that during pregnancy, doctors had already detected abnormalities in the fetus’ kidneys through a CT scan. Following the diagnosis, the family consulted Dr. Aniruddha Basak, Pediatric & Neonatal Surgeon at TMC, who advised that the delivery be carried out in a facility equipped with advanced pediatric surgery.
After the delivery earlier this September, the baby was kept under observation at the Neonatal ICU. Subsequent investigations confirmed severe complications: a Posterior Urethral Valve (PUV) — a rare condition where an abnormal membrane blocks the urinary tract — along with a Right-Sided Duplex Kidney System in which a non-functioning duplicate kidney created additional pressure on the functioning organ.
“This is an extremely rare case,” said Dr. Aniruddha Basak.
“Posterior urethral valve occurs in roughly one in 25,000 newborns, while duplex kidney systems are found in only 0.7% of the population. But the coexistence of both anomalies in the same child is almost unheard of, with only two or three such cases reported globally. At TMC, when the baby was just four days old, we carried out surgery to release the obstruction and drain the affected kidney. The baby is now stable, and with time, both kidneys are expected to recover.”
The baby’s father expressed deep gratitude:
“When the problem was detected during the seventh month of pregnancy, we were very worried. Dr. Basak guided us throughout. After birth, when tests showed the severity of the condition, he performed the surgery immediately. Thanks to him and the TMC team, my child has been given a new life.”
The surgery was a team effort involving pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, NICU staff, OT nurses, and medical interns at TMC. Doctors have described this successful operation as a major milestone for pediatric healthcare in Tripura, proving that even rare and complex neonatal cases can now be handled within the state.
Currently, the baby is recovering well and has been discharged from the hospital in stable condition.
