Urology

Milford Regional has very experienced urologists that specialize in problems of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive system. Using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment in the privacy of the physician’s office, your urologist will develop an individualized treatment plan based on your particular condition. If it is determined that you require surgery, it is important to know that many of the procedures are accomplished with a minimally invasive approach. This allows patients to recover much quicker and with less pain than traditional, open surgery.

Some of the more common conditions that are treated by urologists and may require surgery include…

BPH (Benign prostate hyperplasia)

BPH is a very common condition many men experience as they age. More than half of men in their sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH. The symptoms of BPH vary, but the most common involve changes or problems with urination, such as hesitancy, weak stream, urgency and leaking, or more frequent urination, especially at night.

There is a wide variety of treatments for BPH. Medication is often effective and there are minimally invasive procedures such as microwave energy therapies that patients can receive in the urologist’s office. If your doctor recommends surgery, you may undergo laser vaporization, traditional open surgery, or a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The best treatment choice for you depends on the size of the prostate, how severe your symptoms are, your general health, and your personal preference.

Prostate Cancer

Many of the symptoms of prostate cancer are similar to the symptoms of BPH – problems with urination, although these symptoms most often are not due to cancer. Most men have no symptoms at all. Your doctor will conduct a digital rectal exam and order a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test to screen for prostate cancer. If you have abnormal test results, your doctor may order other tests or will perform a biopsy (remove a small amount of tissue) from the prostate to make the diagnosis.

If cancer cells are discovered, there are several treatment options available including watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy or a combination of treatments. You and your physician will determine the best course of treatment for you.

Your doctor may recommend surgery if the tumor has not spread to other parts of the body and you are healthy enough to handle the operation. Your doctor may perform traditional open surgery, or minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or robotic-assisted surgery. The surgery chosen will depend on your age, medical history and your particular condition.

A laparoscope is a long slender tube with a light and camera on the end. This surgery is done through 4 to 6 small cuts in the navel and the abdomen, instead of a single long cut in the abdomen which is used with traditional open surgery. The laparoscope is inserted through one of the cuts, and surgery tools are inserted through the others to perform the surgery.

Robotic-assisted surgery is a new category in minimally invasive surgery that involves state-of-the-art technology which enables surgeons to perform this delicate operation with superior vision, precision, dexterity and control. This new breakthrough technology, called the da Vinci Surgical System, allows your surgeon to control highly precise instruments attached to robotic arms during the operation, while preserving important nerves and blood vessels that control urinary and sexual function. Read more about robotic-assisted surgery and its many potential benefits.

Radiation therapy is also a good choice for many men with early-stage prostate cancer. A minimally invasive, highly effective treatment, called brachytherapy, is recognized as a standard of care if the cancer is discovered early. Performed in our surgical day center, it targets a low dose of radiation in close proximity to the cancerous location in the prostate, shrinking tumors and killing cancer cells. This treatment involves implanting radioactive seeds directly into the prostate.External beam radiation is another option that involves a machine that aims radiation at your cancer. The machine moves around your body, sending radiation from many directions. This treatment is performed at our Cancer Center, conveniently located right across the street from Milford Regional’s main campus. Read a patient story about brachytherapy.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones often do not cause any symptoms and will pass on their own. Drinking plenty of water will help move it along. If a stone gets stuck in the urinary tract, the first symptom is extreme pain, which begins suddenly.If the stone does not pass, it is caught in a difficult place and continues to cause pain or is causing kidney damage, bleeding, or infection, surgery may be required. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. In ESWL, shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser stones. The stones break down into small particles and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine. In almost all cases, ESWL may be done on an outpatient basis in our surgical day center. Recovery time is relatively short, and most people can resume normal activities in a few days. Read more about lithotripsy.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence and retention can be effectively evaluated with state-of-the-art urodynamic equipment available in your urologist’s office. There is a vast choice of treatments available depending on the cause of the incontinence and the severity of the condition. The most common types of incontinence is either stress incontinence-the loss of urine when there is pressure on the bladder from coughing or sneezing, or urge incontinence-a sudden urge to urinate followed by loss of urine.

Quite often simple behavioral changes or exercises can solve incontinence. There are also several medications that can be effective. Other treatments include injection of artificial bulking agents or placement of a nerve stimulator. If these treatments aren’t working, there are several surgical procedures that should be considered such as sling procedures or bladder neck suspension. You and your doctor will determine the best treatment for you based on your condition.

Other common urological procedures such as vasectomies, cystoscopies, circumcisions and genital wart removal are all available to patients in the privacy of your urologist’s office. Urologists also provide various treatments for male infertility and erectile dysfunction.