Doctors in Croatia achieve rare and complex medical feat

(Photo credit: KBC Rijeka)

Specialists at Rijeka Clinical Hospital Centre (KBC Rijeka) in Croatia have achieved a remarkable medical breakthrough by performing a rare and complex kidney autotransplantation.

This challenging procedure involved relocating the patient’s own kidney from its original position, compromised by a gynaecological disease, to another part of the body.

Despite the technical difficulty, the operation was a success, with the kidney regaining full function within the expected timeframe.

Kidney autotransplantation is an intricate surgery that is rarely performed worldwide. In fact, it is carried out in only a few centres globally – one in the UK and four in the US.

The successful completion of this procedure at KBC Rijeka’s Urology Clinic, recognised as the Reference Centre for Kidney Transplantation by Croatia’s Ministry of Health, marks a significant achievement not only for the hospital but also in the context of European and global medical practice.

The surgical team included experts such as Dr. Antun Gršković, Dr. Josip Španjol, Dr. Klara Smolić, anaesthesiologist Dr. Danijel Knežević, and supporting staff, who all played vital roles in this complex operation, KBC Rijeka said.

The surgery was conducted in a state-of-the-art operating theatre in the new hospital complex at Sušak, which provided advanced technological support, including full integration of diagnostic imaging and patient records during the procedure.

The patient’s ureter had been severely affected by a widespread gynaecological condition, necessitating its removal.

This made it impossible to connect the kidney to the bladder in its original position. Of the available treatment options, kidney autotransplantation offered the best chance to restore kidney function and quality of life.

One month after the operation, the transplanted kidney is functioning well, with normal vascularisation and overall renal health.

KBC Rijeka’s director, Prof. Alen Ružić, expressed pride in the team’s ability to perform such advanced surgical techniques, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge care.

(Photo credit: KBC Rijeka)

Prof. Josip Španjol, head of the Urology Clinic, emphasised the significance of the procedure, noting that it is reserved for complex cases where preserving the kidney is critical, such as in the presence of large tumours, stones, or extensive ureteral damage.

This achievement underscores the hospital’s dedication to continuously investing in infrastructure and expertise to provide patients with the most advanced treatment options.

The successful kidney autotransplantation at KBC Rijeka not only enhances patient care but also reinforces the hospital’s position as a leader in medical innovation.