Urology

Procedures

Urology deals in the treatment and wellbeing of the urinary tract of both males and females, such as the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. This also includes male reproductive organs such as the penis, testes, prostate, scrotum and more.

Urologists apply a wide array of knowledge of internal medicine due to the variety of issues they treat. This can include gynecology and pediatric medicine. Since a urologist can treat issues for both men and women, it is important that all patients schedule a visit should a problem arise.

Common urological procedures include: Cystoscopy, Lithotripsy, InterStim Placement and vasectomy.

Cystoscopy

A form of endoscopy, a cystoscopy involves an examination of the bladder. A small tube (cystoscope) is inserted through the urethra, the tube that allows urine to leave the body. Cystoscopy’s can be done in a testing room, using jelly to numb your urethra, or as an outpatient procedure with sedation.

Many worry that a cystoscopy will be painful, but with the help of numbing gel or sedation, the process is painless and may only take a few minutes. Patients have reported the urge to pee during the procedure, but this does not cause pain. If you do feel pain during your procedure notify your doctor immediately.

Lithotripsy

Derived from the Greek words meaning, “breaking stones,” a lithotripsy is a non-invasive procedure using shock waves to eliminate hardened masses in the urethra, such as kidney stones.

You may be given general anesthesia for the procedure, meaning you will be asleep while it is completed. You will also be given antibiotics. Once the procedure is completed and the mass has been destroyed, the remaining small pieces will be passed through urination. The process can take between 45 minutes and 1 hour.

InterStim Placement

InterStim placement is part of Sacral Nerve Stimulation therapy, and aims to help relay messages to the brain in relation to urinary control. This device was developed by Medtronic, and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997.

Placement of the device requires anesthesia, either general anesthesia or pain medication with a sedative. 2 incisions will be made in the buttocks, near the top of the tail bone. The first incision will measure roughly 2 inches long, with the second measuring about half an inch or less.

Sacral Nerve Stimulation Therapy does not work for everyone, and results may vary by patient.

Vasectomy

The vasectomy is a common procedure that eliminates the supply of sperm to a male’s supply of semen. This is an outpatient procedure and is typically done under anesthetic in 10 to 30 minutes.

Male patients should only undergo this procedure if they are certain they do not wish to father a child in the future. It is possible to reverse a vasectomy, but this form of birth control should be considered a permanent option.

In this procedure, a small incision is made into the scrotum, where a doctor will remove and clip the vas deferens, which supply the sperm. The vas deferens are then sealed and returned to their original position, and the incision or puncture closed using glue or stiches.