Pepe Portilla Pediatric Hospital performs first minimally invasive kidney surgery

A multidisciplinary urology team in Pinar del Río, Cuba, has successfully performed a percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the first time at the Pepe Portilla pediatric hospital. The minimally invasive procedure was used to remove a staghorn calculus from a 16-year-old patient, Adrián Rodríguez Vélez, who suffers from a metabolic disorder affecting calcium, phosphate, and magnesium levels.

The three-hour operation was led by urology specialist Roberto Caveda Carrasco. To facilitate the surgery, the pediatric hospital established a collaboration with the Abel Santamaría Cuadrado hospital to utilize specialized minimally invasive equipment. Specialists noted that the endoscopic technique, which utilizes an endocamera, provides superior visibility and surgical access compared to traditional open surgery, which is critical for preserving renal function.

In addition to the clinical success, the procedure served as a training opportunity for medical professionals, including newly graduated specialist Misael Hernández and fourth-year resident Jonathan Cuba.