Urologists at the Pirogov Clinic of St Petersburg University use surgical innovations in kidney stone removal, inaccessible in Europe and the USA

According to the organisers, the conference has been the first such event in the Russian Federation and one of the first conferences in the world dedicated to aspiration — a minimally invasive method for kidney stone fragments evacuation after endoscopic fragmentation. The conference brought together more than 50 leading urologists from different regions of the Russian Federation, headed by Professor Alexey Martov, Russia’s chief endourologist, Correspondent Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

Special guests at the conference were: Professor Zeng Guohua, Head of Urology Research Institute at Guangzhou Medical University in the People’s Republic of China, and Professor Kemal Sarıca, Head of the Urology Centre at Biruni University in İstanbul, Turkey. 

Leading specialists from the Pirogov Clinic gave three live surgical demonstrations, during which they showcased the possibilities of various aspiration techniques and ways of using the key aspiration devices. The broadcast from the operating theatres was moderated by the foreign experts. The presidium was headed by: Professor Nariman Gadzhiev, Deputy Director for Urology at the Pirogov Clinic of St Petersburg University; and Professor Alexey Martov, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, President of the Russian Endourology and New Urotechnology Society.

Despite its obvious efficacy and safety, the aspiration technique has not been widely adopted for the treatment of renal stones in the USA and European countries due to the rigidity of the system of adoption of surgical innovations into clinical practice. Nonetheless, the Pirogov Clinic adopted the aspiration technique from leading experts in the People’s Republic of China and we successfully apply it for the benefit of our patients.

Dr Nariman Gadzhiev, Deputy Director for Urology at the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University, Professor in the Department of Urology at St Petersburg University

Professor Gadzhiev also emphasised that the consolidation of promising medical technologies and their dissemination in Russia and overseas became possible thanks to the development of the Urology Service established by Dmitry Shkarupa, Director of the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University. Over 4,000 surgeries of all levels of complexity are performed annually in the Department of Urology while maintaining the minimum number of complications (no more than 3%). For most diseases, citizens of the Russian Federation are treated under the programme of Compulsory Health Insurance, with 80% of patients coming for treatment to the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University from the regions of the Russian Federation, CIS and other foreign countries.

At the end of the conference, urologists from the Pirogov Clinic at St Petersburg University took part in sailing race "Uroregatta". The team of the University doctors, along with the guests from the PRC and Turkey, learnt the art of yachting. "The sailing race, in which internationally recognised experts in their field step down to the beginner level and learn a new skill, fosters team spirit, excitement and friendly rivalry," shared Nariman Gadzhiev.