The Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) in Hyderabad recently organized an international urology conference ‘Uretha@AINU’.
The conference was attended by more than 800 urologists from different parts of India as well as experts from 8 other countries – United Kingdom (UK), Uganda, Nepal, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand and Gulf countries.
The conference was organized with the aim of sharing new techniques and experiences in the field of urethral reconstruction surgery. Urothral reconstruction is a complex but very important surgery, which is done in a situation when the urinary tract (urethra) becomes narrow.
Urothral reconstruction surgery – Why is it necessary?
When our urinary tract shrinks or gets obstructed due to some reason, urine is not able to pass out of the body properly. Not only is it very uncomfortable, but if not treated on time, this condition can also lead to serious diseases, such as kidney damage, infection or even urinary retention.
AINU urologist and organizing secretary of this conference, Dr. Bhavtej Enganti said,
“When pelvic fracture occurs in road accidents, the urinary tract also gets damaged. But in such cases, surgery cannot be done immediately. Doctors have to wait for a few months so that the wound heals and the swelling subsides.”
Other reasons for narrowing of the urinary tract
Dr. Enganti said that not only accidents, the urethra can also become narrow due to many other reasons, such as:
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Recurrent infections can also cause blockage in the tube
- Radiation treatment for cancer: Radiation in prostate or bladder cancer can damage the urethra
- Congenital abnormality: Some people are born with this problem
- Long stay in hospital: especially if the patient is bedridden and a catheter has been used for a long time
In all these situations, when the urinary tract becomes narrow, reconstructive surgery has to be resorted to. But this surgery is very technical and requires a lot of experience.
AINU Achievements – Growing Steps
Dr. C. Mallikarjuna, Chief Urologist and Managing Director, AINU said,
“In the last 9 years, we have successfully performed more than 1,000 urothral reconstruction surgeries. Initially, we used to perform around 50 surgeries every year, but now this number has increased to 200 to 250 cases annually.”
This achievement is huge in itself, as it not only reflects the capability of the surgeons, but also validates the trust of the patients and the technology of the hospital.
Highlights of the conference – Exchange of knowledge and experiences
In this conference, not only did the doctors of AINU share their research and surgical experiences, but experts from outside India also told how urothral problems are being handled in their country.
Key speakers in the conference were:
- Dr. Sanjay Kulkarni (from Pune): He is a globally renowned name in the field of urothral surgery. He talked about how they have developed simple and effective techniques in India that can be implemented even with limited resources.
- Dr. Ganesh Gopalakrishnan (from Coimbatore): He shared his experience of solving complex cases and how important it is to keep the mental state of the patient in mind.
Benefits of the conference – for both patients and doctors
The biggest benefits of such conferences are that:
- Doctors get to learn new techniques
- They learn from the mistakes and successes of others through case studies
- New doctors get mentorship
- Patients get access to more experienced doctors and better treatment
- Standard of care improves in the country
The future of urology in India
In a country like India where the population is high and access to healthcare is still a challenge, it is very important to have a strong network of urologists. The efforts of institutions like AINU to share new techniques also open doors for small towns and rural areas of the country.
Even today, urological treatment is very limited in many parts of India. But such conferences work to connect doctors from all over the country. This makes it possible that any patient, whether in a village or a city, can get better treatment.
What is important for patients to know?
If a person is complaining of frequent burning sensation, obstruction or very little urine, then he should not be careless. Many times people ignore it thinking it to be normal, but it can be the beginning of urothral stricture.
If timely examination and treatment is done, then major surgery can be avoided. It is not necessary that surgery has to be done every time – many times the condition can be improved with medicines or small procedures.
Conclusion – A strong message from the conference
This International Urology Conference held in Hyderabad has made it clear that India is no longer just a country seeking treatment, but is becoming a country that gives direction to the world in the field of medicine.
This move by AINU not only strengthens India’s role in medical science but also proves that When doctors, scientists and institutions work together, the common people get direct benefit from it.
If more institutions across the country take inspiration from this conference and organize such events, the level of health care can rise significantly.
Prof. (Dr) Rajeev Sood is a renowned urologist, surgeon, and educator with over 40 years of experience. A Dr B C Roy Awardee and gold medalist from USI, ASI, and NZUSI, he shares his rich expertise through blogs on medicine, surgery, and healthcare leadership.