Medical milestone: Peshawar sees trailblazing doughnut stone surgery

PESHAWAR: In a groundbreaking medical operation that unfolded in Peshawar, doctors have successfully treated a unique case of a doughnut-shaped kidney stone.

This marks not only a significant achievement for the medical community in Pakistan but also a noteworthy case in the history of global medical science.

The story began two months ago when 30-year-old Badshah Khan, a resident of the tribal district of Kurram, experienced abdominal and lower back pain. Seeking relief, he visited the Institute of Kidney Diseases Hayatabad, Peshawar. Like many others, he assumed that his visit would lead to routine check-ups and perhaps a prescription for his discomfort.

However, what unfolded during Khan’s check-up was far from routine. Medical examinations revealed that his kidneys possessed a congenital anomaly – a pelvic diverticulum, colloquially referred to as a “doughnut kidney.” Under the skilled hands of doctors, Khan underwent a successful surgery at the Institute of Kidney Diseases Hayatabad, making history not only for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but for the entire country.

Prof Liaquat Ali, a renowned urologist at the Institute of Kidney Diseases Hayatabad, shared that this surgery represented the first instance of a 45-millimeter kidney stone shaped like a doughnut being operated on in medical history. “The complexity of the surgery is significant, with a success rate of only one per cent (of 0.35 million people) among similar cases globally,” he said adding the meticulous procedure, which lasted around 30 minutes, has left a remarkable mark in the realm of medical achievements.

Following the successful surgery, Badshah Khan is currently under observation at the Institute of Kidney Diseases Hayatabad. Experts in the medical field consider such cases to be exceptionally rare due to their lack of awareness and understanding, potentially leading to severe consequences. During pregnancies, conditions like these can become even more intricate, they said.