Dr Avreen Singh, MBBS, MS - General Surgery, MCh - Urology, hails from Ludhiana and, in a spell of few years, has become the most sought-after Urologist specialising in Kidney Stone management and Kidney Tumors. His expertise is sought by thousands for Prostate problems, as well. To be India's one of the best and most talked about surgeons, one has to be completely updated on the newest technologies too. His experienced hands with the latest scientific techniques make Shah Hospital in Ludhiana one of the most frequented by Kidney and prostate patients from across India.
Kidney stones have been a problem that we commonly hear about, yet the knowledge of the various modalities and advancements in its treatment is still lacking in the general public. Dr. Avreen says, "The management of kidney stones by minimally invasive techniques was started by the popularization of PCNL- percutaneous nephrolithotomy where a small hole is made in the back of the patient to enter into the kidney, the stone is fragmented and removed."
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This was a game changer; since then, open surgeries for kidney stones have become rare. Over the years, technological advancements and the introduction of lasers made it possible to break stones through smaller channels, so the innovation of RIRS came into being. The doctor said, "Where now the normal anatomical passage would be used to enter into the kidney, this meant going from urinary bladder to ureter into the kidney and eventually breaking the stone under vision with laser."
Adding to this, he explains, "RIRS itself underwent a series of modifications and advancements. With passing years, the size of the scopes became smaller (the current ones that we use are 2.5mm in diameter). Hence, minimum preoperative preparation or dilation was required, as compared to older scopes where Stents had to be put before surgery for a week or so to gain entry into the kidney."
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The latest in RIRS armamentarium are digital disposable chip-on-tip scopes which are lighter, have better vision, and bend more than their older counterparts. This leads to less surgeon fatigue, easier stone manipulation, lesser costs for patients and better results. To this, he further adds, "this combined with the Advanced Thulium Fiber Laser, as introduced by us in Ludhiana, decreases the stone breaking time and hence the total surgery duration also."
Being the first ones in the city to have started using these latest disposable chip-on-tip Digital RIRS scopes (since 2020), Shah Hospital has witnessed some very good results. Hundreds of patients are satisfied with the stone clearance, faster recovery, no incisions and lesser hospital stays.
This is why Shah Hospital has been awarded the Center of Excellence for RIRS by SEA (Surgeon Education Academy).
Dr.Avreen Singh explains, "such advancements and minimally invasive procedures make the surgical process less scary for patients and gives them a treatment option which is one of the best and recognized throughout the world."
Dr. Avreen Singh Shah is a tech-savvy doctor and a founder member of the Holomedicine Association. With knowledge in Robotic surgery and his interest in reconstructive urology and paediatric urology, his skills in endourology and laparoscopic surgery are well known and well acclaimed.
