Niu Yulin's team took a group photo with Xiao Chen's family. Courtesy of Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University

"In a few days, the bladder fistula that 'accompanied' me for more than 10 years will be pulled out, and I can move easily and freely." Although still lying on the hospital bed, Xiao Chen is full of joy.

Xiao Chen, 19 years old, has difficulty urinating due to congenital neurogenic bladder. Since childhood, he has relied on bladder fistulas to assist urination. On April 14, he successfully performed kidney transplantation and colon bladder replacement surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, and was about to bid farewell to cystostomy completely and regain new life.

"The kidney source was donated by the patient's mother. The two operations lasted more than 7 hours and recovered well after the operation." Niu Yulin, director of the organ transplantation department of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, said that kidney transplantation and colon bladder replacement surgery were carried out simultaneously, which was the first case in Guizhou, not only bringing good news to patients, but also an important milestone in the field of neurogenic bladder treatment in the hospital.

The operation is in progress. Courtesy of Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University

At the age of three, many doctors failed

Xiao Chen was born in an ordinary family in Anshun, Guizhou Province. At the age of 3, he was initially diagnosed as congenital neurogenic bladder and underwent cystostomy. "I solved the problem for a while, but the disease is very rare, and the condition has not been controlled." Recalling the past, Ms. Jiang, her mother, was lonely.

Although the disease is difficult to cure, never give up. Every winter and summer vacation, Ms. Jiang takes her son out for medical treatment, but her condition has not improved. At the age of 9, affected by the congenital neurogenic bladder, Xiao Chen's kidney had serious hydronephrosis, which led to renal failure. He had no choice but to remove the left kidney. The doctor asserted that he must wear a cystostomy tube all his life.

"If Western medicine is not good, we should look at traditional Chinese medicine." In order to seek a glimmer of hope for cure, Xiao Chen and his mother went to Chongqing to see traditional Chinese medicine after six winter and summer vacations in Beijing. However, until the death of the old doctor a few years later, his condition was still unsolved. To make matters worse, with the increase of height and weight, the congenital neurogenic bladder also leads to osteomalacia of Chen, and the legs are X-shaped, unable to walk normally.

The operation is in progress. Courtesy of Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University

"Guiyang, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing... have been to countless hospitals." Ms. Jiang told reporters that in 16 years, except when the children were at school, they were either in the hospital or on their way to the hospital, but they were "returned" by the hospital because of their rare illness and few cured cases.

Ms. Jiang and her husband were heartbroken as they watched the lively children go from taking a fistula to walking on crutches. Last year, they decided to go to West China Hospital of Sichuan University for consultation on osteomalacia. Unexpectedly, I got the news that congenital neurogenic bladder could be eradicated.

"The doctor said it was not osteomalacia that mattered, but neurogenic bladder that had suffered for many years. He suggested returning to Guizhou for kidney transplantation." The words of the doctor of West China Hospital made Ms. Jiang's family regain hope, and they hurried back to Guiyang without stopping.

Two sets of operation have been cured for several years

In August last year, Niu Yulin received Xiao Chen at the end of work and immediately contacted West China Hospital to confirm that he was a patient with congenital neurogenic bladder. "His only remaining kidney has gradually become necrotic and is on the verge of dialysis." After comprehensive research, Niu Yulin and experts from West China Hospital have given the best treatment plan - simultaneous kidney transplantation and colon bladder replacement surgery.

Niu Yulin explained that unlike general kidney transplantation, Xiao Chen's disease root lies in the neurogenic bladder, which leads to excessive bladder pressure and urine backflow to the kidney. Over time, hydronephrosis will form, leading to kidney failure. Therefore, simple kidney transplantation cannot solve the problem, and two operations must be performed at the same time.

During the postoperative recovery period, Niu Yulin guided Xiao Chen to carry out self exercise within his ability. Photographed by Wang Xiufang, reporter of People's Daily Online

With the plan, new problems follow. "Guizhou has not carried out kidney transplantation and colon bladder replacement surgery at the same time before, and it is a long process to wait for a suitable kidney source." As soon as Niu Yulin's voice fell, Ms. Jiang said without hesitation that she was willing to donate her son's kidney, and Huaxi Hospital also said that it could provide technical support.

The two problems were solved, and the rest was preoperative preparation. In order to ensure safety, the Department of Organ Transplantation of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University has set up an expert team to comprehensively assess the physical conditions of Xiao Chen and Ms. Jiang, and invited experts from West China Hospital to sit in town for guidance.

On April 14, under the guidance of Niu Yulin's team and experts from West China Hospital, Xiao Chen and Ms. Jiang successfully completed the operation. Now, three weeks later, Ms. Jiang has recovered well. She and her husband have taken care of Xiao Chen who has gradually recovered in the hospital.

"The hanging heart finally fell, and we never imagined such a good result." Ms. Jiang said with emotion that she once thought that the child would suffer from illness and pain all his life, and live with a "tube". Now he can run and jump freely, and the family's life has been bright again

Share to let more people see