110-year-old successfully undergoes surgery in Pune to restore urinary function

Docs at Pune's Ruby Hall Clinic perform minimally invasive procedure, offering new hope for elderly

Following the one-and-a-half-hour-long procedure, the patient was catheter-free and able to urinate independently within three days

Dr Kshitij Raghuvanshi, robotic surgeon at Ruby Hall Clinic in Maharashtra’s Pune recalls being reluctant to operate on a 110-year-old patient from Rajasthan with acute urinary retention.

“We do consult some of the patients who are aged over 100 years and even operated on a 101-year-old patient. But this patient was different,” he says, after the successful completion of a surgery to restore his urinary function on May 6.

However, the team went ahead with the surgery as the patient did not want to be on a urinary catheter and was firm on improving his quality of life.

The elderly patient had severe abdominal pain, attributed to an enlarged prostate gland. Once there is urinary retention, the bladder does not get completely empty when one urinates.

In cases of acute urinary retention, the patient may not be able to urinate at all or in small amounts despite having a full bladder. This can lead to a lot of digestive discomfort, doctors say.

“Given the patient’s age of 110, there was careful consideration regarding the appropriate course of action. Subsequently, the patient underwent the innovative Bipolar Prostate enucleation procedure, also known as Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP),” the urologist said.

Following the one-and-a-half-hour-long procedure, the patient was catheter-free and able to urinate independently within three days. The TURP procedure is a minimally invasive surgical technique utilised for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate gland.

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During TURP, a specialised instrument called a resectoscope is inserted through the urethra to remove excess prostate tissue, thereby alleviating pressure on the urethra and restoring normal urinary function. This procedure is renowned for its efficacy in mitigating urinary symptoms and enhancing the quality of life for patients afflicted with BPH.

“Age is just a number, and with advanced medical technology and a dedicated team, we can achieve extraordinary outcomes even in complex cases. This surgery not only restored the patient’s urinary function but also significantly improved his quality of life,” Dr Raghuvanshi added.

Dr Purvez Grant, managing trustee of Ruby Hall Clinic, said the patient recovered well post-surgery and was discharged within two days.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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