Hyderabad, April 8: Doctors at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU), Banjara Hills, have successfully cleared a significant 10 mm kidney stone from a one-year-old boy using an advanced, non-invasive technique, sparing the infant from the trauma of traditional surgery. The young patient, hailing from Bidar, Karnataka was referred to AINU by his local pediatrician after presenting with concerning symptoms, including excessive crying and blood in his urine. Upon clinical evaluation, he was found to be restless and irritable due to a 10 mm stone in his left kidney.
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The young patient was brought to the clinic restless and irritable due to a 10 mm left renal stone. Given the patient’s age and small stature, the medical team, led by Dr. Gopal Ramdas Tak, Consultant Urologist at AINU, opted for Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) using Dornier lithotripter machine. This “no-incision” approach allowed the team to fragment the stone without a single drop of blood loss or the need to pass any equipment through the tender small urethra in the chain.
Under a short period of general anesthesia, the child was positioned for the ESWL procedure. Using high-energy shock waves, the stone was pulverized into tiny, sand-like fragments. Within hours of the procedure, the boy was awake, comfortable, and feeding normally. He was discharged the same day, turning a potentially daunting surgery into a seamless day-care experience.
“In pediatric cases, our priority is to minimize trauma and avoid the risks of invasive surgical access,” said Dr. Gopal Ramdas Tak, Consultant Urologist, AINU Banjara Hills . “By utilizing modern ESWL integrated with ultrasound guidance, we completely eliminated the risk of ionizing radiation. This case highlights how we can achieve excellent stone clearance in small children with maximum safety and a very rapid recovery.”
The procedure’s success was defined by its entirely non-invasive nature, involving no incisions or surgical wounds, which ensured the child remained active and pain-free. Safety was further enhanced by using ultrasound-guided targeting to protect the infant from radiation exposure. This single-session treatment proved highly effective, as a one-month follow-up ultrasound confirmed complete stone clearance after the child passed the fragments naturally and returned to normal activity almost immediately.
This milestone at AINU Banjara Hills underscores the hospital’s commitment to “child-friendly” urology. By choosing ESWL over traditional surgery, the medical team significantly reduced the emotional and physical stress for both the child and his parents. Dr. Gopal Ramdas Tak, a Fellow of the World Endourology Society with over a decade of experience, continues to champion these minimally invasive techniques to ensure that even the youngest patients in Hyderabad receive world-class, gentle medical interventions.
Speaking about the procedure, Dr. Mallikarjuna C, Managing Director, Chief Consultant Urologist & Robotic Surgeon AINU said
“Kidney stone disease is a well-recognized and increasingly common condition across the country, affecting not only adults but also a growing number of children—largely due to changing dietary patterns. While advanced endoscopic and laser-based treatments are effective, their use in pediatric patients can be challenging due to anatomical limitations. In such cases, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) emerges as a safe, non-invasive, and highly effective treatment option. This technique uses focused shockwaves to fragment stones into tiny particles that can pass naturally through the urinary tract. Given its safety, repeatability, and high success rates—especially in children—ESWL remains a preferred approach in managing pediatric kidney stones.”
Backed by a team of seasoned experts—Dr. Purna Chandra Reddy, Dr. Gopal Ramdas Tak, Dr. Mallikarjuna C, and Mr. Deshpandya Hemesh—the institution brings together excellence across advanced urology and patient care.
