Hyderabad hospital fixes rare female urinary disorder
HYDERABAD: Doctors at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology have successfully performed a rare reconstructive surgery on a woman who suffered from severe urinary problems for 12 years, restoring normal urination.
Rare reconstructive surgery restores normal urination
The patient, Pallavi, from Jharkhand, had been struggling with difficulty in passing urine for over a decade. Each attempt took 15 to 20 minutes, with urine passing drop by drop, accompanied by pain, burning sensation and recurrent infections. Despite consulting multiple hospitals, she received only temporary relief.
Doctors diagnosed her condition as female urethral stricture narrowing of the urethra a problem that often goes undetected in women for years.
Buccal mucosa graft used for urethral reconstruction
Consultant female urologist Sarika Pandya and head of reconstructive urology Bhavatej Enganti performed a buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty, using tissue taken from the inner lining of the mouth to reconstruct the urethra. The procedure is more commonly performed in men but is now being successfully adapted for women.
Doctors said the patient made a complete recovery within four months of surgery, with her urinary problems fully resolved.
Doctors warn against delayed treatment
Enganti said many women suffer silently due to lack of awareness about urethral strictures, especially those above 40 years. The condition can result from catheter use during caesarean sections or other surgeries, as well as infections.
Pandya cautioned against repeated urethral dilatation procedures, which provide only temporary relief and can worsen the condition. She said buccal mucosal graft surgery offers a permanent solution. Over the past five years, the hospital has successfully performed around 60 such surgeries.
Doctors advised women facing urinary difficulties to seek medical help without hesitation.
