In a groundbreaking medical achievement, surgeons at Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, successfully removed a massive diseased kidney, weighing over 5.5 kilograms, from a 45-year-old male patient suffering from Advanced Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). The rare and complex surgery is among the heaviest kidney removals ever reported in South India.
The patient had been experiencing severe abdominal pain, bloating, and breathing difficulty for months. Diagnostic scans revealed that one of his kidneys had become grossly enlarged, filled with multiple fluid-filled cysts, and was pressing against nearby organs.
“It was not just a kidney—it had grown to the size of a newborn baby, occupying nearly half of the patient’s abdominal cavity,” said Dr. Ramesh K, lead urologist on the case.
- Duration of surgery: Over 4 hours
- Surgical team: Led by a multidisciplinary team including specialists in urology, anesthesiology, nephrology, and general surgery
- Outcome: Kidney successfully removed without major complications
- Post-surgery status: The patient is stable and recovering well, with plans for dialysis and potential transplant in the future.
While the world’s heaviest kidney on record is around 9 kg, this surgery is one of the largest recorded in South India. The case is being reviewed for inclusion in the Indian Medical Records Registry.
“Such cases are extremely rare and carry significant risk. Successful removal is a testament to our surgical capabilities and hospital infrastructure,” said Dr. Ramesh.
This successful procedure underscores the growing expertise of Indian medical colleges like Ramaiah in handling rare and high-risk surgeries, especially for chronic kidney diseases like PKD that often go undiagnosed until complications arise.
The patient will now undergo routine dialysis and be evaluated for a kidney transplant. Meanwhile, the surgical team is preparing to publish the case in a peer-reviewed medical journal to help guide treatment of similar cases nationwide.
