Common Conditions Explained
Understanding your health is the first step towards recovery. Here are simple explanations of common urological conditions and their treatments.
1. Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, usually affecting those over 50. It occurs in the prostate gland, which produces seminal fluid.
Symptoms: Difficulty starting urination, weak urine flow, blood in urine or semen, and bone pain in advanced stages.
Treatment: Early detection through PSA screening is key. For localized cancer, **Robotic Radical Prostatectomy** is the gold standard surgical treatment. It offers precise removal of the cancer while preserving urinary control and sexual function helping in faster recovery.
2. Kidney Tumours & Partial Nephrectomy
Kidney tumours are abnormal growths in the kidneys. Not all are cancerous, but many require removal.
Symptoms: Blood in urine (hematuria), persistent pain in the side or back, and a palpable lump in the abdomen.
Treatment: In the past, the entire kidney was often removed. Now, we emphasize **Partial Nephrectomy** (Nephron Sparing Surgery), especially for smaller tumours. This complex procedure removes *only* the tumour while saving the healthy part of the kidney, which is vital for long-term health.
3. Urethral Stricture & Urethroplasty
A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urine pipe (urethra) that blocks urine flow, causing difficulty in passing urine.
Symptoms: Straining to pass urine, weak or thin urine stream, frequent urination, and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
Treatment: Simple cutting of the stricture (OIDM) often fails. **Urethroplasty** is the definitive reconstructive surgery where we surgically repair the narrowed segment, often using a graft from the mouth (Buccal Mucosa), to restore normal flow permanently.
4. Erectile Dysfunction & Penile Implants
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse often due to diabetes or vascular issues.
Symptoms: Persistent trouble getting or keeping an erection and reduced sexual desire.
Treatment: When medicines fail, a **Penile Implant** is a life-changing solution. It is a surgically placed device (malleable or inflatable) that allows a man to have an erection whenever desired, restoring confidence and intimacy.
5. Stress Urinary Leak in Women
Many women experience involuntary urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, or laughing. This is called Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI).
Symptoms: Unintentional urine leakage during physical activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising.
Treatment: **Sling Surgery (TOT/TVT)** is a minimally invasive procedure where a small tape is placed under the urethra to support it like a hammock. It effectively stops leakage and drastically improves quality of life.
6. Varicocele & Infertility
A varicocele is the swelling of veins in the scrotum, similar to varicose veins in legs. It raises testicular temperature and is a leading cause of male infertility.
Symptoms: Dull testicular pain, dragging sensation in the scrotum, or visible enlarged veins (bag of worms).
Treatment: **Microsurgical Varicocelectomy** is the best technique. Using a high-powered microscope, we precisely tie off the swollen veins while preserving arteries. This improves sperm count and quality with the highest success rates.
7. Micro TESE for Zero Sperm Count
Azoospermia (Zero Sperm Count) means no sperm is found in the semen. However, sperm production might still be happening in tiny pockets within the testis.
Symptoms: Inability to conceive naturally despite regular attempts. Semen analysis shows zero sperm count.
Treatment: **Micro TESE** (Testicular Sperm Extraction) is an advanced procedure where we map the testis under a microscope to find those rare healthy tubules containing sperm, which can then be used for IVF/ICSI to father a biological child.
8. Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer typically presents as painless blood in urine. It usually starts in the lining of the bladder.
Symptoms: Painless blood in urine (often visible), frequent need to urinate, or pain during urination.
Treatment: Early stages are treated endoscopically (TURBT). If the cancer has invaded the muscle, the bladder may need removal (Radical Cystectomy). We can often construct a **Neobladder** (new bladder from intestine), allowing the patient to pass urine normally without a permanent external bag.
9. Renal Failure & Transplant
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is when kidneys stop functioning permanently. Patients require either lifelong dialysis or a transplant.
Symptoms: Severe fatigue, swollen feet or ankles, decreased urine output, and nausea.
Treatment: **Renal Transplant** is the treatment of choice. It offers a much better quality of life and longer survival compared to dialysis. Advances in surgery allow us to perform donor surgery laparoscopically, minimizing pain for the donor.
10. Kidney Stones & BPH
Kidney stones cause severe pain, while BPH (Enlarged Prostate) causes trouble passing urine in older men.
Symptoms: Stones: Severe pain in back/side, nausea. BPH: Weak stream, straining, frequent night-time urination.
Treatment: We treat stones using laser (RIRS) or keyhole surgery (PCNL) without open cuts. For BPH, we use laser enucleation (HoLEP) or TURP to remove blocking tissue, restoring free urine flow immediately.