Emirati Teenager Successfully Treated for Rare Congenital Condition at Al Ain’s Burjeel Farha
A 15-year-old boy from the UAE has undergone successful treatment for retrocaval ureter, a rare congenital condition with fewer than 200 reported cases worldwide in over 100 years. Abdulla Ali Abdulla Alblooshi had been experiencing abdominal pain for months, but it was only recently that he received a definitive diagnosis. After a successful surgical procedure at Al Ain’s Burjeel Farha, he has been discharged and is now on the path to pursuing his dreams in sports.
Abdulla is a gifted sportsperson, excelling in marathons, golf, and football. He achieved first place in the ADNOC Marathon and came second in the UAE President’s Cup 2023 Future Falcon Championship. His role models include football icon Lionel Messi and UAE’s prolific goal scorer Ali Mabkhout. The Grade 11 student aspires to represent the UAE at the Olympics and win a medal for his country. However, his dreams were hindered by the undetected retrocaval ureter, which caused him excruciating abdominal pain.
Abdulla’s parents, Ali Abdulla Mohammed Alblooshi and Zaynab Mohammed Adam Alblooshi, spoke about the challenges they faced in reaching a diagnosis. They made multiple visits to doctors, but the cause of his pain remained unidentified until they consulted Dr. Humam Qaraschouli, a consultant urologist at Burjeel Farha. Tests, including ultrasound and CT scan, revealed the congenital anomaly of the right ureter.
Dr. Humam noted that retrocaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly, predominantly affecting the right ureter. It has an incidence of only 0.06 to 0.17 percent worldwide, with just over 200 reported cases. In Abdullah’s case, the condition had also affected the functioning of his right kidney. The diagnosis took Abdullah’s parents by surprise, but they placed their trust in Dr. Humam and agreed to proceed with surgery.
The surgical procedure involved resecting the right ureter and repositioning it correctly, with both segments of the ureter being reconnected. A ureter stent was inserted to facilitate proper healing and drainage, which will be removed after a few weeks. Dr. Humam stressed the importance of timely surgical intervention in relieving Abdullah’s suffering and preventing potential complications.
Now that his health has been restored, Abdullah is eager to resume his education and pursue his athletic dreams. He expressed his gratitude to the medical team who helped him overcome this challenging condition and is looking forward to returning to school and his athletic pursuits.
Dr. Humam emphasized the importance of correct diagnosis, particularly for conditions that may mimic other common ailments. He suggested using ultrasounds as a non-invasive method to rule out abnormalities when children experience recurrent abdominal pain.
This success story serves as a reminder of the importance of expert medical care and timely intervention in treating rare conditions.
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