When you see a urologist, they can carry out various urology procedures for diagnosing and treating urological conditions.Let’s take a look at some of the most common urology procedures:
Prostate Procedures
Urologists may perform a number of procedures to diagnose and treat prostate conditions. These include:
Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate:Otherwise more simply known as holmium laser prostate surgery or abbreviated as HoLEP – is a minimally invasive procedure to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). It averts any metabolic complications associated with TURP and is far less invasive.
Prostate biopsy: A procedure to remove samples of tissue from the prostate for examination in a lab.
UroLift: A minimally invasive procedure done in-office to treat mild to moderate prostate enlargement.
Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA): A procedure that uses radiofrequency ablation to shrink prostate tissue that is pressing into the urethra and causing urinary symptoms.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): A minimally invasive procedure that uses a special instrument called a resectoscope to trim and seal prostate tissue when the prostate is enlarged and causing difficulty in urination.
Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP): A procedure used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A small endoscope is inserted through the urethra and special instruments create small openings in the bladder neck where it connects to the prostate. This opens the urinary channel so urine can pass.
Lithotripsy
Lithotripsy is a urology procedure that uses shock waves or a laser to break down stones in the kidney, bladder, or ureter. The laser or shock waves break up large stones so that they can pass through the urinary system.
Ureteroscopy
Ureteroscopy is a procedure used to diagnose and treat kidney stones. A special instrument called a ureteroscope (a long, thin tube with a light and camera) is guided through the urethra and the bladder and up the ureter to where the kidney stone is located. Small stones can be removed whole, while larger stones need to be broken up. The procedure used to break up the stones is called lithotripsy.
Cystoscopy
A cystoscopy is a urology procedure that allows a urologist to examine the lining of the bladder and the urethra. An instrument called a cystoscope is inserted into the urethra and guided to the bladder. The cystoscope is made up of a long, thin tube with a light and a camera at the end. This procedure is commonly used to diagnose and treat bladder conditions. It can also be used to diagnose an enlarged prostate.
Pyeloplasty
Pyeloplasty is a surgical produce to operate on the renal pelvis in the kidney where the urine is collected after it is produced. At the junction of the renal pelvis and the ureter there can often be a blockage. This is called a pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction and must be dealt with to avoid several long term complications including loss of kidney function, urinary infections and the formation of kidney stones.