Football legend Maradona was a ‘good patient'

For Dr Yassir Jasem, spending two hours with football legend Diego Maradona this week is an experience he will remember for an entire lifetime. Each moment of those two hours, the specialist urologist was extremely cautious, alert and, he admits, a little nervous too. For he was performing surgery on the legend and current manager of Dubai's Al Wasl club to remove his kidney stones. "It is something I would remember for my life. We had already done all the pre-operative check ups, were fully prepared. It was not something I was doing the first time, but even then, I can say when I started, I was worried and wanted to be very sure about the success," the doctor told Gulf News. Discharged Maradona was admitted to the Canadian Specialist Hospital in Dubai on Sunday for removal of stones from his ureter and, after a successful surgery, he was discharged on Monday. Dr Jasem, who is the Specialist Urologist and Head of Urology Department at Canadian Specialist Hospital, conducted the ureteroscopic stone removal surgery. The 51-year-old Argentinian legend was a "very good patient", Dr Jasem said. "After clinically examining him, we explained to him about the ureteroscopic surgery and also the post-operative management. He was very co-operative and polite. One might think he would have a ‘star' behaviour, but that was not the case," the doctor explained. The most memorable experience was when "soon after the surgery, when he was up, he wanted to watch a football DVD, reflecting his passion for the sport." The surgery was successful and Maradona was given advice about post-operative care. "We are very proud that we got to manage it. We have had VIP patients but, of course, having a legend as Maradona made us proud," Dr Jasem said. Health concerns The Argentinian great has battled a couple of health problems over the years. He had a gastric bypass operation in 2005 and had a spell in hospital two years later for alcohol-induced hepatitis. Maradona is expected to return to his post at Al Wasl today. Advice: Prevent stones Maradona's doctor suggests sufficient intake of water to prevent kidney stones. "Sometimes, in hot weather, the intake of water may not be sufficient. Generally, that is the reason of formation of stones in the kidney." He recommends an intake of about 2 litres of water a day to stay healthy.