Boy, 7, keeps kidney after severe injury thanks to 'stay still' tactic

A 7-year-old boy in Dong Nai, Vietnam, has kept his right kidney after suffering a severe injury during a school accident. The child was playing with friends when he fell and hit his right hip on the corner of a lecture hall's podium.

He began experiencing pain and blood in his urine, prompting his family to take him to a local hospital. A CT scan revealed a serious injury to his right kidney. The boy was transferred to Children's Hospital 2 on May 19, where doctors noted persistent blood in his urine and a continuous drop in red blood cell count, indicating ongoing bleeding from the damaged kidney.

To combat the risk of blood loss, doctors administered a blood transfusion and initiated a strict conservative treatment plan. The boy was confined to bed with minimal movement and closely monitored. This careful management allowed the kidney to stop bleeding on its own and begin healing, eliminating the need for surgery.

Doctors at Children's Hospital 2 stated that kidney injuries are common in children, often resulting from everyday accidents like falls from bicycles, climbing, or rough play. Associate Professor Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, the hospital's deputy director, emphasized that conservative treatment is preferred to preserve the organ. However, he warned that such treatment requires close monitoring in specialized medical facilities. "Without close monitoring, children can experience massive bleeding, leading to life-threatening hemorrhagic shock. In such cases, doctors are forced to perform emergency surgery, and the risk of kidney removal is very high," Dr. Thach cautioned.

With summer approaching, doctors are warning of a surge in childhood accidents due to increased playtime. Parents are urged to teach children self-protection skills, avoid dangerous games, and seek immediate specialized medical care if a child complains of flank pain or shows signs of blood in their urine after a fall or impact. They strongly advise against self-medicating with painkillers or using home remedies.

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If not closely monitored, children can fall into a state of massive bleeding, leading to life-threatening hemorrhagic shock. In such cases, doctors are forced to perform emergency surgery, and the risk of kidney removal is very high.