Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery

Traditional urologic surgeries are performed through large incisions for proper access and visualisation of the surgical site. Advances in technology now allow your doctor to treat various urological conditions such as tumours, stones and blockages through minimally invasive techniques that reduce pain, recovery time and scar formation.

Minimally invasive urological surgeries can be performed by the following methods:

• Some minimally invasive procedures may be accomplished by passing a catheter through the natural openings of the body such as the urethra (tube that passes urine outside the body). The entry and surgery can be guided by imaging procedures such as ultrasound and X-rays. Surgical instruments can be passed through the catheter. Certain conditions such as stones may be treated by focussing energy on the target areas.
• Another minimally invasive technique is laparoscopy which involves making 2-3 tiny incisions (1-2 cm) to introduce a laparoscope and surgical instruments. The laparoscope is a thin, long, lighted tube that has a camera attached to it. This helps your surgeon to obtain a clear and magnified view of the surgical site on a monitor.
• Robotic technology has further refined minimally invasive urologic surgery by improving precision. Here, your doctor performs the procedure by controlling robotic arms while sitting at a computer station. The arms have more manoeuvrability than the human hand and can be precisely controlled. This is critical for urologic surgery where nerve damage can lead to loss of bladder control or erectile dysfunction.