Prompt Diagnosis Ends An Eight-Year-Old Girl’s Medical Mystery
Chennai, Kauvery Hospital, Radial Road, performed a one-of-its-kind Bilateral Intravesical Reimplantation surgery on an eight-year-old girl who endured years of constant discomfort due to distressing urinary incontinence and has finally found relief. Diagnosed with a rare condition called ectopic ureter, her recovery today stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, compassionate care, and thorough clinical expertise.
An ectopic ureter is a congenital condition in which the tube that transports urine from the kidney to the bladder, known as the ureter, opens outside the bladder instead of connecting to it properly. This might result in aberrant urine drainage, which can cause symptoms like incontinence, especially in females.
Since infancy, the child had been suffering from continuous dribbling of urine, leaving her dependent on diapers both day and night. Despite multiple attempts to find a solution over the years and her condition being misattributed to recurrent urinary tract infections and vulvovaginitis, she continued to battle the physical discomfort of constant wetness, severe skin excoriations, and the emotional pain of isolation and stigma.
The child’s journey took a hopeful turn when she came under the care of Dr. Sangeetha, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Nephrologist at Kauvery Hospital, Radial Road. During a detailed clinical evaluation, a crucial observation—continuous urinary leakage from the urethra—guided the team toward the suspected diagnosis of ectopic ureter, a rare congenital anomaly where the ureter does not connect to the bladder in the typical position.
Further investigations, including ultrasound, MR urogram, and cystoscopy, provided critical insights into the child’s condition. The confirmation of the diagnosis paved the way for surgical correction. Under the expert hands of Dr. Raghul M, Consultant, Paediatric Surgery, the child underwent a bilateral intravesical ureteric reimplantation surgery.
The transformation post-surgery has been nothing short of remarkable. After years of battling incontinence, the young girl is now continent during both day and night, able to comfortably hold urine for up to two hours—an achievement that once seemed impossible. She now embraces life with renewed confidence and joy.
“Ectopic ureter, though rare, can be a hidden cause of persistent urinary incontinence, especially in young girls,” explained Dr. Sangeetha. “In this case, a detailed history and clinical examination helped us finally uncover the root cause and offer her a chance at a normal, happy childhood.”
Kauvery Hospital, Radial Road, is a leading healthcare institution offering advanced treatments and surgical interventions in neurology, cardiology, women and child wellness, gastroenterology, orthopaedics, joint reconstruction, urology, nephrology and other specialities. With a dedicated team of experts and state-of-the-art medical facilities with 250+ beds comprising 50+ critical care beds, 20+ NICU beds, 7+ operation theatres, advanced Cath labs, cutting-edge neuro diagnostic equipment like 3T MRI and 4K + 3D neuro microscope, transplant facilities and 24/7 dialysis unit, it provides world-class medical care to patients from around the globe.
