Reconstructive urology is a very important part of a patient’s urological treatment. For many different reasons, patients may find themselves in need of surgery to repair their urinary and reproductive systems. Everyone is different, so urologists assess each patient’s situation to determine the best treatment. A patient’s age, health and ability to recover from surgery are all factors a urologist will consider when determining if surgery is the best option.

There are many different forms of reconstructive urologic surgery. Urologists are trained to perform surgeries on the kidneys, bladder, urethra, testicles, prostate and vagina. They spend years in school and training with urologists to learn the surgical techniques needed to perform reproductive surgeries. They stay up to date with the newest techniques and technologies in urologic surgery.

Reconstructive urologic surgery is used to treat issues such as erectile dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor disorders, urinary incontinence, penile trauma, and issues caused by different forms of cancer. One example is the treatment for erectile dysfunction. In some cases of ED, doctors will repair the blood vessels in the penis to allow easier blood flow so the patient can achieve erections. This is an option for some patients when medication and other treatments do not work.

Urologists also may rely on reconstructive surgery in cases of pelvic organ prolapse. This occurs when a woman’s muscles that hold organs like the bladder, uterus and vagina in place begin to weaken. These organs can begin to prolapse, or droop, causing numerous medical issues. A urologist will use reconstructive surgery to either implant a small plastic support device, or remove some of the drooping organs, such as the uterus, by hysterectomy.

Urologists often rely on reconstructive surgery to treat penile trauma. There are many different causes of penile injury, often from blunt force trauma. But the most common cause is an accident during sex. One type of surgery used to treat penile trauma is to make a cut around the head of the penis to pull back the skin of the affected area and treat any blood clots or tears.

All surgery is serious, and reconstructive urologic surgery is no exception. St Pete Urology has long been a leader in Florida and in the United States for all treatments of urological issues, including surgery. For more information, visit the St Pete Urology website.

Technological innovations in urology have resulted in far-reaching improvements in patient care. At St Pete Urology, the implementation of new technologies and innovations has improved diagnostic accuracy, enhanced the safety and quality of treatments, and streamlined patient information systems. For example, the use of advanced imaging technologies has enabled urologists to visualize and diagnose different conditions more precisely while minimally invasive surgery results in significantly reduced pain and quicker recovery and convalescence.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Our urology specialists use laparoscopic surgery when applying miniature instruments inserted using a small tube (known as a laparoscope) through small incisions in the patient’s body. We use novel biological sensors, techniques and instruments to ensure less pain, faster recovery and better outcomes for urologic problems. For example, we offer minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for kidney stones, pelvic organ prolapse, live donor nephrectomy, uretal stricture, uretopelvic junction obstruction, renal cysts, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer and more. Our urologists in St Petersburg have also refined laparoscopic surgery for use in children to remove dysfunctional or malformed kidneys, correct blocked ureters and treat undescended testicles.

Robotic Surgery

At St Pete Urology, every urologist is trained in the use of robotic surgery to perform operations with more precision. Robot-assisted surgery is a minimally-invasive operation similar to laparoscopy (performed through smaller incisions than open surgery), but in which small surgical tools are mounted on a robotic arm controlled by the surgeon using a computer. The urologist makes tiny incisions for inserting the instruments into the body then uses an endoscope to view enlarged 3-D images of the affected area during the operation. Our urology clinic boasts of the da Vinci machine, the world’s most advanced surgical robot, enabling our specialists to conduct operations with better vision, precision and control.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

Also called Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), this form of treatment has been implemented at St Pete Urology with great success for prostate patients. Our state-of-the-art imaging enables urologists to direct radiation with more precision to the area of the prostate that requires treatment. With better preparation and planning, this technology ensures more accuracy and allows the urologist to target the same area of the prostate for all additional treatments. In fact, EBRT ensures less radiation and pinpoint accuracy for better outcomes and reduced side effects associated with radiotherapy.

Cryosurgery and Cryosurgical Ablation

We have implemented new cryosurgical technologies for treating prostate cancer, making it easier for our urologists to map cancerous cells more precisely, and freezing and killing cells not reachable by means of radical prostatectomy surgery. Similarly, we use cryosurgical ablation to destroy diseased tissues and eradicate prostate cancer in patients who decline radical surgery (involving prostate removal). Our cryosurgical procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis and without incisions, ensuring minimal blood loss or side effects.

Selecting the Best Technologies

In a world with seemingly endless urology innovations and technologies, we have carefully selected and implemented only those that are effective and appeal to both patients and doctors. This means that all technologies at St Pete Urology have a proven efficacy, cause the least discomfort to patients, and can easily be performed by every urologist. For more information on safer and effective use of the latest technological innovations in the treatment of urological conditions, make an appointment at St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida.

Voiding Dysfunction is a general term to describe the condition where there is a lack of coordination between the bladder muscle (detrusor) and the urethra. [Read Full Article…]

The da Vinci Surgical System is a surgical robot that does tiny incisions for precise, minimally invasive procedures. [Read Full Article…]