Urology
Urology has developed into a field of medicine where, in its present status, science, technical developments, diagnostic procedures and invasive as well as non-invasive therapeutic measures have reached their highest peak.
Indeed, urology embraces 8% of all diseases and abnormalities. Within the course of a lifetime, the likelihood exists that everyone, at some time or other, will need an urologist’s expertise for advice, treatment and hopefully for the curing of urological disorders.
These days, a modern urology team can perform minimally invasive procedures on conditions that used to be routinely treated with open surgery or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The present high-tech equipment handles kidney stones in a single procedure. The laser used vaporizes kidney stones into dust-like particles that are washed out in urine with a 97% success rate. Patients are treated in a single session, recovery times are shorter and there are fewer side effects.
There are ultrasonic pneumatic lithotripters, as well as flexible ureteroscopes, cystoscopes and nephroscopes – surgical telescopes that minimize pain and discomfort for patients.
The variety of technologies available means that the urology team can tailor kidney stone treatment to the needs of each individual patient. The challenges of the future lie in those areas of urology engaging minimally invasive procedures, e. g.:
Kidney – malignant and benign tumours Bladder – malignant and benign tumours Prostate – malignant and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) Common urological malignant and benign diseases
It is good to know that urology has found increasing interest among the general public. Clinics as well as hospitals are consequently prepared to invest substantial sums of money in new technologies.
