Giant Hydronephrosis Presenting as Abdominal Distension: An Unusual Case Presentation

Abstract

Hydronephrosis is a urological condition that most commonly occurs in the pediatric population and is not a common finding in the adult population. A study conducted in Nagpur, India, has shown that ureteric calculus is the most common cause of unilateral hydronephrosis, accounting for 2/3rd of the cases, followed by pelviureteric obstruction in 25% of the cases. A case of a left-sided giant hydronephrosis in an adult male patient was reported. A 27-year-old male patient presented to the OPD with complaints of left flank pain for 20 days. He had associated abdominal distention for 6 months but had not seen a doctor until the pain started. The patient was diagnosed with a Non-functional left kidney secondary to pelviureteric junction obstruction. The patient underwent a left open nephrectomy with a left flank incision. Intra-operatively, an obstruction at the left pelviureteric junction was noted, and 5 litres of clear fluid were drained from the left kidney. In conclusion, this case can be presented for its rarity and emphasises that a pelviureteric obstruction can also be a rare cause of an acute abdomen in adults. Early diagnosis and effective surgical treatment can help prevent complications.