60da72ef8e6bfcaed4a8f7f3_doctors
Urology

What Types of Procedures does a Urologist Perform?

Dr. Joe Pazona

As the only doctor in my family, I had no idea what a urologist was or the types of procedure they performed. For a while I thought I’d be a pediatrician because I always wanted kids of my own. Then I realized that I don’t like treating sick kids . . . who aren’t of my DNA . . . nor their parents.

One day while on a surgery rotation in my 3rd year of medical school, a urology resident (doctor in training) asked if I wanted to come observe a kidney stone removal. Always the overachiever, I jumped at the opportunity. The attending urologist, in his early 60’s, still had the enthusiasm of a child who just ate their first Krispy Kreme donut.

When the kidney stone was snatched he yelled “YES! GREAT JOB!”. At that moment, I said to myself, “if this guy still loves urology after 30 years of practice, then this is the job for me.” And from that moment on, I became the penis and scrotum doctor.

But, we’re not all about the pork and beans. Urologists take care of kidney cancer, lady business issues and make sure the population doesn’t get out of hand with vasectomies.

Let’s review the types of procedures a urologist performs by both types of procedures and the body parts we work on. This way you can be better prepared for whether a urologist is the right doctor for you.

Male anatomy

Scrotum, testicles, and vas deferens oh my!

Let’s start with the lowest hanging fruit. The ball sac and it’s contents (sorry this is how guys talk . . . it’s totally professional in a urology discussion). Any ailments of the scrotal contents require the help of a urologist.

The most common procedures a urologist performs on the scrotal contents include:

  • Vasectomy
  • Hydrocele repair (hydrocelectomy)
  • Testicular torsion repair (orchidopexy)
  • Testicle removal for cancer (radical orchiectomy)
  • Cyst removal (spermatocelectomy)
  • Infertility surgery (sperm retrieval, vasectomy reversal)

 

Whether it’s a scrotal skin problem (e.g. sebaceous cyst) or something more internal (e.g. testicular cancer) a urologist will be the right man or woman for the procedure.

One confusing area is a hernia. Groin (inguinal) hernias can bulge into the scrotum and cause swelling. Unless this is an issue since birth (congenital hernia), then the correct doctor for this issue is a general surgeon.

In the cosmetic space (yes men are vain about their balls), a urologist may place a testicular prosthesis if a testicle was previously removed or even inject Botox to smoothen the skin. Yes . . . “Scrotox” is a thing.

Overall scrotal surgeries are safe and completed as an outpatient. A vasectomy is routinely performed in an office setting with local anesthesia and sedation.

Penis

My son looked at me the other day and said “penises Dad? . . . really?!” I reminded him that penises will partially cover his college expenses while quickly pivoting to a discussion about baseball.

We actually don’t operate on penises very often, but the more common penile procedures a urologist performs include:

  • Circumcision
  • Genital wart removal
  • Penile prosthesis for ED
  • Penile straightening for curvature (Peyronie’s disease)
  • Cancer removal (yes you can get d@*! cancer . . . don’t worry it’s rare)

 

Penis procedures are usually performed as an outpatient in an office or surgery center. Prosthesis placement is typically done in a hospital.

Prostate

The prostate is a walnut to grapefruit sized organ which sits behind the pubic bone in men. It is part of the urinary tract and is also partially responsible for semen production. Prostate procedures are usually performed for problems urinating or prostate cancer.

With recent advances in prostate medications, along with more conservative prostate cancer guidelines, these procedures are not as routine but still commonly performed by most urologists.

A urologist performs endoscopic, open and robotic procedures on the prostate such as:

  • Prostate biopsy
  • Urolift implant
  • Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP or “roto-rooter”)
  • Laser resection or enucleation of the prostate (HoLAP, HoLEP, Greenlight laser)
  • Radical prostatectomy for cancer (robotic or open)
  • Prostate seeds, HIFU or cryoablation for cancer

 

These surgeries vary greatly in their side effects and recovery timeframe.

Female anatomy

Although OB/GYNs are the main lady business doctors, urologists also perform vaginal surgeries for women. To brush up on the difference between a urologist vs. a urogynecologist, please check out our previous blog post on the subject.

The types of vaginal  procedures that a urologist performs may include:

  • Mid-urethral sling (for stress incontinence)
  • Pelvic prolapse repair
  • Urethral diverticulum removal
  • Pelvic mesh removal
  • Repair of a vaginal fistula

 

Many general urologists will perform sling surgeries to treat leakage with coughing, sneezing and laughing. The other procedures are typically performed by fellowship-trained female pelvic medicine and reconstructive specialists.

Male and female urinary tract

Enough about our differences, now lets focus on the urinary tract procedures that a urologists performs on men and/or women.

Urethra

The pee channel runs from the bladder to the outside world. It’s a short muscular tube in women. In men, it runs the length of the penis (to varying lengths of course), under the scrotum and through the prostate.

The various urethral procedures performed by a urologist are:

  • Cystoscopy
  • Urethral dilation
  • Treatment of urethral stricture
  • Artificial urinary sphincter (stress incontinence in men after prostate surgery)
  • Urethral bulking (mainly incontinence in women)
  • Urethroplasty (reconstruction of the urethra)

 

A cystoscopy is the most common procedure performed by urologists. It is typically done in an office setting for the evaluation of any urethral or bladder issue. In order to treat the upper parts of the urinary tract (e.g. bladder, ureter, kidney) a cystoscopy through the urethra is necessary.

Bladder

If you have bothersome problems in the bathroom, then a bladder procedure with a urologist is likely in your future. Bladder procedures can be performed via a cystoscopy or in a more invasive fashion. This may involve:

  • Urinary catheter placement
  • Bladder cancer diagnosis and removal
  • Lithotripsy of bladder stones
  • Botox injections of the bladder (for incontinence not wrinkles)
  • Sacral neuromodulation (a bladder pacemaker for incontinence that technically does not involve surgery of the bladder itself)
  • Bladder stretching (hydrodistention)

 

A urinary catheter placement is technically a procedure so we included it in this list. Most urinary catheters are placed by non-urologists in a hospital setting before surgery or if someone is unable to urinate on their own.

Ureter

The ureter is the urinary tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. Ureter procedures by a urologist include but are not limited to:

  • Stone removal (stone was formed in the kidney and is “passing” down the ureter)
  • Lithotripsy (breaking up the stone with sound waves or a “freakin laser”)
  • Cancer removal
  • Repair or scar tissue (ureteral stricture)
  • Stent placement

 

Stone surgery makes up 99% of ureteral procedures a urologist performs. Ureteral stents are very commonly placed after a ureteral surgery is completed to prevent a blockage. They are removed via a string or cystoscopy in the office.

Kidney

As we finish our journey back up the urinary tract, we finally reach the kidney. Urologists perform surgeries on the kidneys while nephrologists deal with kidney dysfunction (click here to learn more).

Many of the aforementioned procedures of the ureter and bladder, are performed by a urologist on the kidney including:

  • Kidney cancer removal (partial or radical nephrectomy)
  • Kidney cancer destruction (cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation)
  • Stone removal and lithotripsy (ESWL, PCNL, laser)
  • Repair of scar tissue (pyeloplasty)
  • Kidney trauma or bleeding

 

Some kidney procedures are not performed by the urologist. A kidney biopsy is usually performed by a nephrologist or interventional radiologist. Occasionally a trauma surgeon will fix a kidney injury if they are doing an exploration for other internal organ injuries.

Endoscopy procedures

Another way of looking at the types of procedures performed by a urologist are by the kinds of tools and techniques implemented. Endoscopy refers to using a scope to look inside an organ. In the field of urology, this usually refers to the urinary tract.

An endoscopy can be performed of the:

  • Urethra (urethroscopy)
  • Bladder (cystoscopy)
  • Ureter (ureteroscopy)
  • Kidney (nephroscopy)

 

Got it? Don’t worry you’ll be quizzed at the end. Now we usually use the term cystoscopy to include an evaluation of both the urethra and bladder (lower urinary tract), and ureteroscopy to describe a look of the ureter and inside of the kidney (upper urinary tract).

These procedures usually are performed from the bottom up. However, you can make a small incision in the back and gain direct access to the kidney (most commonly for a PCNL or percutaneous nephrolithotomy).

Robotic-assisted or laparoscopic procedures

Laparoscopic procedures entail inflating the abdomen with air, making small incisions, and performing surgery with narrow instruments guided with a camera.

 

laparoscopic surgery diagram

When we utilize a robotic system for remote access to the instruments, this now becomes robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The most common procedures a urologist performs with either of these approaches are for kidney cancer, prostate cancer and urinary reconstruction.

Open procedures

Alright! Now we’re talking, good old-fashioned, “pass the scalpel” surgery. This is what most people think of when they talk about “a surgery.”

However, many open procedures a urologist performs are still minimally invasive.

A no-needle, no scalpel vasectomy is technically an open surgery performed through a tiny poke in the scrotal wall. Repair of swollen testicular veins (varicocele) can be done through a 3-4 cm incision in the groin area with aid of a microscope.

On the other hand, major cancer surgeries, especially for large tumors, can involve incisions across the entire abdominal wall and are associated with long recovery periods.

Conclusions

Hopefully you have a better appreciation of the breadth of procedures that a urologist performs. Although my son still thinks I’m just a “penis and ball” doctor, you can see we also perform procedures on the kidneys, prostate and lady business.

Maybe don’t tell him that I’m a lady business doctor as well. He’s 13 years old and that will be a more difficult one to explain.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Joe Pazona

Dr. Joseph Pazona is the founder and President of VirtuCare, a telemedicine solution for connecting patients with physician experts.
d0b2e82054b1b0ec793832f0cce1002f

We’re here to help.

At VirtuCare, we believe that patients deserve direct access to the experts. There should be no gatekeeper standing between you and a healthcare specialist. VirtuCare puts you in control.

Related Posts

6059089c0357024b8624599f_main in pain
Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Cremaster Muscle Pain: The Likely Cause of Your Achy Balls

Nothing is more frustrating for men, or their urologists, than achy balls. You’re in pain and want help. The problem…
604272a54f864683eb1a09e7_bladder pain
Wednesday, August 10, 2022

When Should a Woman See a Urologist?

Unlike men, women tend not to be shy about going to the doctor. Women start seeing their OB/GYN for “lady…
622b72a3ababe60f40fe9356_man looking at computer
Monday, March 21, 2022

How To Get A Telemedicine Prescription

Sometimes all you need is a quick prescription. You know what’s going on, because you know your body better than…
ced70169c6533e1e253f83f9121dfb1b

Interested in learning more about a partnership with VirtuCare? Hear from one of our partners.