Urology
The field of urology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the kidneys, the urinary bladder, the urethra and the male sexual organs. The latter, in turn, include the penis, scrotum, testicles, epididymis, vas deferens and prostate.
What is urology?
The main responsibility of a urologist lies in the early detection of cancer, which is why urology comprises a wide range of diagnostic procedures that make it possible to detect kidney, prostate, urinary bladder or testicular cancer at an early stage.
However, it would be incorrect to assume that urology deals exclusively with the treatment of diseases in men. In fact, women suffering from a disease of the ureter or bladder may also need to visit a urologist.
Treatments
The specialist medical field of urology includes treatment for:
- prostate cancer
- bladder, kidney, ureter, testicular and penile cancer
- inflammation of the bladder and/or renal pelvis
- urinary stones
- incontinence
- sexual disorders or requests for vasectomy (male sterilisation)
- infertility
Depending on the respective diagnosis, the urologist has a wide range of treatment methods at their disposal. Inflammation is usually treated with medication, while other illnesses often require surgical intervention, although more minor surgery such as vasectomy, prostate biopsy or circumcision can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Treatment for cancer patients is interdisciplinary. This means that specialists from the relevant specialist areas will work closely together to achieve the greatest possible therapeutic success.
Our team of specialists has a state-of-the-art surgical infrastructure at its disposal in various clinics:
daVinci® surgical robot
The daVinci® surgical robot is used to perform an advanced version of keyhole surgery (known in the medical world as laparoscopy). This method involves several small incisions (instead of a single, large abdominal incision), through which a camera and surgical instruments are inserted into the abdominal cavity. Over the course of multiple procedures, it has been proven that laparoscopy offers the same level of quality as open surgery, but is less invasive for the patient (less pain, shorter hospital stays, quicker return to work and less visible scarring).
Artemis fusion biopsy
Artemis fusion biopsy offers significant advantages in prostate cancer screening. This system enables robot-assisted, high-precision tissue removal. Even the smallest abnormalities can be accurately identified, enabling a much more precise diagnosis and more targeted therapy.
Surgical microscope for vasovasostomy
With the help of the surgical microscope, operations can be performed with threads that are half as thin as a strand of human hair. This method is used in vasovasostomy.
Cyberknife®
Cyberknife therapy – a radiosurgical method – serves as an alternative or supplement to conventional methods of prostate cancer treatment. Radiosurgery involves injecting a very high dose of radionuclide into the prostate, while ensuring maximum protection of the healthy tissue. Cyberknife treatment is usually performed in just five sessions to ensure that it is as effective and uninvasive as possible in an outpatient setting.
Urological emergencies
- Testicular torsion: without rapid surgery (excavation of the testicles, detorsion and orchiopexy, fixing of the scrotum in the scrotal sack), the testicle could become irreparably damaged.
- Acute renal colic: causes very severe pain; according to women who have given birth, this pain is as severe as labour pains. Renal colic is usually caused by kidney or urethral stones. In addition to medication-based pain treatment, the insertion of a ureteral stent (pigtail) is occasionally required.
- Urosepsis (blood poisoning caused by inflammation of the urinary tract): if this coincides with kidney congestion, a ureteral stent must be inserted immediately.
- Macrohaematuria: blood in the urine can be detected with the naked eye.
- Injuries to genital organs: in this case, the urologist will need to perform immediate (usually surgical) correction.
FAQs
When might a woman visit a urologist?
When women consult a urologist, it is usually in connection with diseases of the bladder and ureter, such as chronic bladder inflammation.
From what age is it advisable to see a urologist?
Men are advised to consult a urologist from the age of 45 at the latest to undergo important health check-ups. These help to detect any malignant changes to the prostate gland at an early stage. In principle, however, we would generally say “the sooner, the better”, which is why we would also encourage younger men to consult a urologist in order to ensure early detection of any potential diseases.
