Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the surgical and medical diseases of the male and female urinary tract system and the male reproductive organs. The organs under the domain of urology include the kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis).
The urinary and reproductive tracts are closely linked, and disorders of one often affect the other. Thus a major spectrum of the conditions managed in urology exists under the domain of genitourinary disorders. Urology combines the management of medical conditions with conservative therapy, such as urinary tract infections and benign prostatic hyperplasia on the one hand, and the management of medical conditions with surgical therapy, such as bladder or prostate cancer, kidney stones, congenital abnormalities, traumatic injury, and stress incontinence on the other hand.
Urology has traditionally been on the cutting-edge of surgical technology in the field of medicine. Urologists are well-trained in minimally-invasive techniques, employing real-time ultrasound guidance, fiber-optic endoscopic equipment, and various lasers in the treatment of multiple benign and malignant conditions. In addition, urologists are pioneers in the use of robotics in laparoscopic surgery.
Urologists provide a wide variety of fine, invasive diagnostic and ambulatory treatment procedures including:
- Cystoscopy – including biopsy of the bladder
- Urodynamic assessment of bladder dysfunction
- Doppler Ultrasound for diagnosing vascular problems of the reproductive system and causal factors of sexual dysfunction
- Trans-rectal ultrasound for diagnosing prostate problems
Urologists provide a wide variety of urologic operations:
- Laparoscopic
- trans-urethral
- open
Such as:
- Prostatectomy for benign enlargement and/or malignant tumors of the prostate
- Partial and/or total bladder resection in malignancies
- Kidneys and urethral resections
- Special surgical procedures correcting sexual dysfunction, infertility, and incontinence
- Surgical and ultrasonic removal of kidney stones
- Radioactive iodine isotopic implants in the prostate, for treating prostate cancer
- Minimally invasive laparoscopic (decreased post-operative pain, shorter hospital stay, better cosmetic result)
