What are the common urology conditions?

Urology is a surgical sub specialty that deals with problems related to the following organs:

1. kidney

2. adrenal gland

3. ureter (urine tube connecting kidney to bladder)

4. bladder

5. urethra (urine tube connecting bladder to the external)

6. penis and testes in males

Common urology conditions are stones in the kidney or ureter, infections of the bladder or kidney, prostate enlargement and cancer growing in the prostate, bladder or kidney.

These conditions may present with symptoms of pain over the back or lower part of the abdomen, blood in urine, pain during passage of urine, frequent urination and general symptoms such as lack of energy and loss of weight. In some conditions, they remain silent till the disease has progressed to an advanced state.

Evaluation of urology problems involve a physical examination, blood and urine tests and scans of the abdomen (ultrasound, CT scan or MRI). Sometimes, a cystoscope or a fine tube with a camera attached to its end in inserted in to the urine tube to inspect the health of urethra, prostate and bladder.

New - Green light laser surgery for prostate

Green light laser or Photoselective vaporization of prostate (PVP) is a relatively new treatment for prostate enlargement or BPH. BPH treatment is usually by prostate medications to either relax the urine tube or decrease the size of the prostate gland. However, surgery may be required in patients with more significant obstruction that is not responding to medical treatment or who have developed complications.

It is a form of minimally invasive surgery that evaporates prostate tissue which is blocking the flow of urine from the bladder. Green light laser uses a unique high power energy which is selectively absorbed by blood within the prostate tissue which leads to vaporization and removal of the tissue, leading to an open channel for passage of urine. As it is selectively absorbed by blood, green light laser seals blood vessels beneath the area of vaporization which results in substantially less bleeding, compared to traditional traditional transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). There are much fewer side effects and recovery is much quicker.