When we counsel patients before they get a vasectomy, we do tell them that this is considered a permanent form of sterilization. However vasectomies can be reversed. The vasectomy reversal process is typically one that is not covered by insurance so it can be expensive but it is possible and typically with seventy-five to eighty percent (75-80%) success rates. [While], I do not personally perform the vasectomy reversals themselves, I do have a partner that specializes in that area. So if that is something men are interested in, that is something that is offered by our practice.
My name is Yaser Bassel. I’m a board certified urologist with Advanced Urology Institute.
Most patients that come to us with regards to prostate health issues, the majority of them are dealing with benign disease, in particular something called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. Oftentimes those types of diseases and those types of symptoms can be addressed with medication and then beyond that, there are treatments for BPH that include in-office procedures and then beyond that, surgical procedures as well.
The other spectrum is malignant prostate disease which is prostate cancer. Typically that is found with prostate cancer screening. We use the Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) blood test for that and also digital rectal exam (DGA) to detect prostate cancer oftentimes in asymptomatic men. Typically treatments range from robotic prostatectomy, radiation therapy and now there are some newer technologies such as high intensity frequency ultrasound at our disposal. Beyond that, there are also new advanced prostate cancer therapies for prostate cancer that have gone out of the prostate as well.
My name is Brian Hale, I’m a board certified urologist working with Advanced Urology Institute.
When I first started urology we had injection therapy and surgery, so we did a lot of surgery for erectile dysfunction. When Viagra came out in the late 90s that obviously changed everything, and now we have a lot of options besides Viagra, medically. So the treatment of erectile dysfunction transitioned from a surgical problem to a medical problem. We still do treat men with surgery if they fail the medical options but the numbers now are very low for patients who undergo surgery for erectile dysfunction.
My name is Brian Hale, I’m a board certified urologist working with Advanced Urology Institute.
Certainly any man over the age of 50 should be screened for prostate cancer, it is the #2 cause of cancer death in men. There’s a lot of controversy about the PSA because of its lack of specificity: a lot of men who have elevated PSA do not have prostate cancer, but unfortunately we don’t have a better task. We have a rectal exam but that misses more cancer than the PSA, so to stop screening for prostate cancer was a mistake and they actually only reversed that recommendation on screening for prostate cancer based on what was happening. We were seeing a lot of men with Metastatic disease.
I started private practice in 1995, and from 1995 until the last five (5) years or so, I didn’t have any metastatic prostate cancer patients in my practice, and now I have a lot, and a lot of it was from a lack of screening. I have patients that were trying to do everything right: watching their weight, exercising and they stopped screening for prostate cancer because of the recommendations. They would have symptoms like blockage from their prostate or blood in their urine. We would check a PSA and we would find it to be extremely high and later find they have metastatic disease because of lack of screening. I have several patients I know on the top of my head that have had that problem, unfortunately. So I would definitely recommend that they continue screening for prostate cancer. [While] it is true, we need a better test than PSA, but just because we don’t have a better test doesn’t mean we should stop screening and I think the government is coming back around to that because the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer is a lot more expensive than the treatment of early prostate cancer.
Low testosterone can cause symptoms such as fatigue, erectile dysfunction, and lack of energy, negatively impacting a person’s daily life and self-esteem.
Diagnosing low testosterone involves checking laboratory tests and assessing other hormones that may affect testosterone levels.
Treatment options for low testosterone include gels and injectable testosterone, which can have a significant positive impact on patients’ lives.
Dr. Amar J. Raval on Low Testosterone
Amar J. Raval, MD, is a urologist in Tampa, FL, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions, including low testosterone. Low testosterone can have a significant impact on an individual’s daily life and overall well-being. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms and treatment options for low testosterone, as advised by Dr. Raval.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Low testosterone, or hypogonadism, can present with a variety of symptoms that may negatively impact an individual’s quality of life. According to Dr. Raval, some of the common symptoms associated with low testosterone include:
Fatigue
Erectile dysfunction
Lack of energy
These symptoms can interfere with a person’s daily activities, relationships, and self-esteem, making it crucial to seek appropriate treatment.
Diagnosing Low Testosterone
Dr. Raval explains that diagnosing low testosterone involves checking certain laboratory tests, including subsequent tests to confirm the low testosterone levels. In addition, other hormones that may affect testosterone levels are also assessed.
Treatment Options for Low Testosterone
Once low testosterone has been confirmed, Dr. Raval discusses various treatment options with patients. These options include:
Gels: Topical testosterone gels are applied directly to the skin and absorbed through the skin’s surface. This method is convenient and relatively easy to administer, although it may cause skin irritation in some cases.
Injectable testosterone: Testosterone injections are another treatment option for individuals with low testosterone. Injections provide a more direct route of administration, and dosing can be more easily controlled compared to gels.
The Impact of Testosterone Treatment on Daily Life
Dr. Raval emphasizes that testosterone treatment can have a dramatic effect on patients’ lives, including their sexual function, energy levels, productivity, and self-esteem. By addressing the underlying hormonal imbalance, patients can experience significant improvements in their overall well-being and quality of life.
Dr. Amar Raval and Advanced Urology Institute
Dr. Amar J. Raval is a urologist in Tampa, FL, who is dedicated to providing the best possible care for his patients. As a member of the Advanced Urology Institute, the largest urology practice in Florida, Dr. Raval works alongside a team of experienced urologists who share his commitment to excellence in patient care.
By offering comprehensive treatment options and personalized guidance for patients with low testosterone, the Advanced Urology Institute ensures that their patients receive the most advanced and effective treatments available in the field of urology.
TRANSCRIPTION:
My name is Amar J. Raval and I’m with Advanced Urology Institute. There’s plenty of patients who have low testosterone and want to know treatment options for that. They have fatigue, erectile dysfunction, lack of energy, and those can plague them in their daily lives. So generally now with the new screening guidelines with the AUA, we check certain labs. We need to show that they have low T on subsequent labs and we also check other hormones that may affect that. And those that are in need or can benefit from therapy, there’s gels as well as injectable testosterone that can be given to help them in that setting. I think it dramatically affects their lives. Their sexual lives, their energy, their being more productive throughout the day can affect relationships and even their self-esteem. So all of these are huge factors for them.
My name is Brian Hale. I’m a board certified urologist working with Advanced Urology Institute.
Men with low testosterone are often treated in our practice, and we have several options in treating it: We have injections that we do every two to three (2-3) weeks, and we also have gels that they can put on their skin every morning to raise their testosterone levels back to normal levels. We even have pellets we put on the skin of some patients that we do every four (4) months. We have different options depending on what the patient wants done.
If you are in need of a consultation or have any questions, visit us at our Tampa, FL office or call us at (813) 749-0820.
Well, yes—every day. At Advanced Urology Institute, we treat men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and achieve great results for our patients. Erectile dysfunction is a big issue for men today, regardless of their age. Up to half of all men experience some form of ED in their lifetime, with roughly 10% of men over 40 suffering severe forms of impotence.
What is erectile dysfunction?
Also called impotence, erectile dysfunction is the inability to regularly get or maintain an erection for satisfying sex. In general, an occasional problem should not be a cause for concern. In fact, it is normal to have trouble getting or keeping an erection for up to 20% of sexual encounters. But frequent trouble getting an erection indicates a medical problem. With ED, successful erections either become the exception more than the rule or they never happen.
Some of the causes of ED include:
Alcohol use, illicit drug use, or smoking
Medications, such as for high blood pressure
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Heart disease
Obesity
Blocked blood vessels
Scar tissue inside the penis
Sleep disorders
Metabolic syndrome
Anxiety, stress, or depression
Emotional or relationship issues
Risk factors for erectile dysfunction include advanced age, diabetes, obesity, depression, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, low testosterone, high cholesterol and smoking.
What does treatment for ED involve?
Erectile dysfunction is a treatable condition. At Advanced Urology Institute, we offer several treatment options, generally beginning with the least invasive approach. We also give lifestyle advice that may help with overcoming the condition.
For instance, if your ED is due to inactivity, obesity, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, we may recommend you engage in regular aerobic exercise to help reduce the symptoms. We may also recommend you quit smoking, minimize your alcohol intake and follow a healthy diet.
Treatments for ED include:
1. Phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitors
PDE-5 medications are typically the first line of treatment we recommend for men with ED. They include Stendra (avanafil), Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and Levitra or Staxyn (vardenafil).
These oral medications work in a similar manner to boost the level of cGMP—a natural chemical in the body that promotes the widening of blood vessels following sexual arousal. In turn, more blood reaches the penis.
At the same time, these medicines enhance the relaxation of muscles of the penis in response to stimulation, hence increasing blood flow to the penis and allowing an erection.
2. Creams and injections
Sometimes we prescribe a topical Alprostadil cream as an alternative to the oral medications. The cream comes with a plunger and is applied to the tip of the penis and the surrounding skin 5-30 minutes before having sex.
At other times, we may prescribe penile injections as a treatment for ED. That is, we teach you how to inject a medicine at the base of your penis 5-20 minutes before sexual intercourse. After the injection, there will be increased blood flow to your penis and an erection will develop within 15 minutes.
3. Penis pumps (vacuum devices)
A penis pump (vacuum erection pump) is a tube that fits over the penis. A plastic container is placed over the penis and the pump draws air from the container to create a vacuum. The change in air pressure when the device is used causes blood to be drawn into the penis and triggers an erection.
Once the vacuum creates an erection, the retaining band is slid down the lower end of the penis and the pump is removed. An erection will typically last long enough for intercourse but the penis may be cold to the touch, and the rubber band may restrict ejaculation.
4. Penile implant (surgery)
We generally recommend surgery only when all other treatment options are not successful or not well tolerated. If that is the case, a penile implant (prosthesis) may help in achieving erections.
A penile implant is a medical device surgically placed into a penis to mimic the look and performance of a natural erection. The prosthesis involves an inflatable rod inserted in the middle of the penis, with a pump hidden in the scrotum. The pump is used to inflate the rod, which in turn causes an erection.
Penis pumps are custom-fit to your anatomy in a procedure that is performed carefully to ensure that the sensitivity of the penis and your ability to ejaculate are not adversely affected, allowing you to have a normal orgasm and great sexual encounters.
At Advanced Urology Institute, we recognize that erectile dysfunction is a common but very sensitive issue. That is why we provide a compassionate, patient-friendly approach to ED treatment to help men tackle it as soon as it starts. And because ED may also be a sign of a more serious medical condition, we encourage you to speak with a urologist as soon as possible to help you address the underlying condition and find the best treatment option.
Remember, the sooner you speak with your doctor about ED, the sooner you can go back to enjoying physical intimacy with your significant other. For more information about the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.
My name is Yaser Bassel, I am a board-certified urologist with Advanced Urology Institute.
I would say the vast majority of them, especially if they have not tried medications prior to them being seen in our office, probably 70-80 percent of those men will at least have a response to the medication oftentimes enough to basically be satisfactory to the patient or make them pleased with the way the medication is working. So most of them would actually get a good response to the medication.
Are there other treatment options for ED?
As far as what we have available to us now and what’s on the forefront, [for] those patients that do not want medication there are some newer technologies that are available that utilize shockwave energy to try and create newer vascularity in order to get a better response for that medication and that is something that’s basically come out over the past couple of years that we are starting to utilize in our practice. For those that do not respond to medication and still want to have treatment, the next step oftentimes [is] performing a test called a Penile Doppler where we will inject the penis with a vasoactive medication which will then initiate an erection so that we can measure blood flow and also measure for a venous leak which are two reasons why patients can have issues with erectile dysfunction.
If you are in need of a consultation or have any questions, visit us at our Tampa, FL office or call us at (813) 749-0820.
The loss of bladder control known as Urinary Incontinence is a normal problem that is more common in women than men. The effects of urinary incontinence range from barely noticeable to severe. As Dr. Amar Raval from the Advance Urology Institute says, “It is a big issue for women out in public.” Incontinence can cause difficult and embarrassing situations.
There are many causes of urinary incontinence. To understand these causes, it is important to remember that urinary incontinence is a symptom, not a disease. Lifestyle choices that can exacerbate the problem include consuming alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and certain medications. For women, life events that affect women’s bodies in a way that can cause incontinence include pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and aging. Other causes can be found in weight, family history and health.
The different types of urinary incontinence can exhibit a variety of symptoms. Stress incontinence is characterized by small leaks of urine due to pressure on the bladder while laughing, coughing, sneezing or exerting oneself. The small leaks of overflow incontinence happen when the bladder has not fully emptied during urination. Urge incontinence is the sudden and intense urge to urinate, sometimes resulting in an involuntary loss of urine. Having to urinate frequently through the night is another symptom experienced by women with urge incontinence. It is also common for women to be affected by more than one of these types of incontinence.
Fortunately, a wide range of treatment options is available. Women can work with their urologist to find the best treatment option for their individual situation. In some cases, treatment can be as easy as making slight lifestyle changes or taking an oral medication. Botox and acupuncture can help relieve stress incontinence. For more advanced cases, urethral slings can ease symptoms by lifting the urethra into a normal position, and robotic surgeries can lift the bladder in cases of incontinence caused by a prolapse.
The loss of bladder control can be a lifestyle limiting problem for women when it affects their ability to leave the house and maintain normal activities. The urologists at the Advance Urology Institute work closely with each patient to ensure they can live with freedom and confidence, and without the worries of incontinence. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.
Prostate cancer is a health challenge that many men will face in their lifetime. What makes prostate cancer unique is the many forms it can take, with each form requiring a different treatment method and affecting men differently. According to board certified urologist Dr. Brian Hale, “Prostate cancer is extremely common and most men with prostate cancer will probably never have a problem from it.”Prostate cancer is so common that up to 80% of men who live to age 80 will have some form of it. Fortunately, for most of these men the illness will not be terminal. However, prostate cancer is still deadly enough to be the second leading cause of death for men in the United States. In other words, prostate cancer is often harmless; but when it isn’t, it can be deadly. This makes a proper and timely prostate cancer diagnosis essential.
For many men, their prostate cancer will not be aggressive and the symptoms will be manageable. In these cases, urologists rely on active surveillance as the best first treatment option. Rather than risk possibly harmful treatments on a non-aggressive cancer, the urologist will monitor the cancer with routine checkups. Other treatment options will be considered if the cancer becomes more aggressive.
If the prostate cancer is aggressive and immediate treatment is needed, urologists and their patients have a wide range of treatment options to choose from. The treatment option that works best will depend on a number of factors such as the cancer’s size and growth, and the patient’s age and health. Surgery to reduce the size of the cancer is often preferred for slow growing cancers. For more aggressive cancers, urologists may choose chemotherapy or radiation to kill the cancer cells as quickly as possible.
Although there are many possible causes of prostate cancer, there are certain factors that are known to raise the risk of its occurance. The first risk factor is age. As men get older, their likelihood of developing prostate cancer increases. African-American men have a greater genetic risk for developing an aggressive prostate cancer, while family history and obesity are also factors.
Early detection is the key to a successful treatment. Because prostate cancer is age related, it is recommended to most men that they begin having annual prostate checkups at age 50. African-American men and those with a family history of this cancer should be checked annually starting at age 40. Life saving screenings and successful treatments of prostate cancer happen every day at the Advanced Urology Institute, where trusted urologists like Brian C. Hale, MD guide their patients from diagnosis to recovery.
Cancer comes in many forms and choosing the right treatment options depends heavily on the patient, their health, and the type of cancer present. For patients with metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body from where it started), chemotherapy has been a long-standing choice. However, for some patients, immunotherapy is the more effective treatment with fewer side effects.
Immunotherapy works by working with the patient’s body. The human body is designed to fight against infections and diseases, including cancer cells that grow and spread unchecked as they avoid the body’s natural defenses. Immunotherapy boosts the natural immune system, making it more effective in fighting cancer cells. It helps the body identify which cells should be left alone and which cells are cancerous and need to be attacked and eradicated. Immunotherapy utilizes the immune system to better recognize and target cancer cells, even after treatment has ended.
One of the biggest benefits of immunotherapy is its less severe side effects. Chemotherapy is known for its harsh side effects that can be devastating to patients. Side effects such as severe fatigue, hair loss, nausea and vomiting diminish quality of life for cancer patients. While immunotherapy is not without its side effects, most patients find that muscle aches, shortness of breath and headaches are easier to endure.
Immunotherapy can be used to treat many types of cancers. Urologists have been using it to treat bladder and prostate cancers, and typically for patients who have asymptomatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Having more treatment options for prostate cancer—the most common form of cancer found in men—means a successful outcome is more likely.
Immunotherapy is less toxic than chemotherapy and its less intense side effects allow for a better quality of life for patients with prostate and bladder cancer. According to Dr. Amar J. Patel, Board Certified Urologist, immunotherapy is also shown to increase life expectancy for cancer patients by up to three months. Advance Urology Institute achieves better outcomes for patients by utilizing all of the tools available in the fight against cancer, including the patient’s very own immune systems. For more information about immunotherapy, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.
Prostate cancer is a common cancer that affects the walnut-shaped male prostate gland. As with most cancers, early detection is an important part of any successful treatment. The most common way prostate cancer is detected is through prostate cancer screenings during a patient’s appointment with a urologist. According to Dr. Amar Raval, “Screenings are important, along with a digital rectal exam, because prostate cancer continues to be the number one cancer found in men.”
Should you be screened for prostate cancer? If you can answer yes to one or more of the following conditions, then you may need to be screened:
• If you are between the ages of 55 and 69.
• If there is a history of prostate cancer in your family.
• If you are African-American.
• If you have a pre-existing medical condition that makes treatment difficult.
These factors are known to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, and it is recommended that someone who has one or more of these conditions is screened at least once a year.
There are two main types of prostate cancer screening tests that a patient may receive. The most common is a digital rectal examination (DRE). For this exam, the health care provider puts on a glove and inserts a finger into the patient’s rectum to feel for any abnormalities on the prostate that can be attributed to cancer. The other screening is a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. This blood test checks the PSA level in the blood, as someone with prostate cancer will have an elevated PSA level.
If one of these tests leads to a prostate cancer diagnosis, the urologist will want to identify what kind of prostate cancer it is in order to develop the best treatment plan. Non-aggressive cancers may not necessarily need treatment and can be monitored with active surveillance, which means watching the cancer to make sure it doesn’t turn aggressive and spread. In cases where the cancer is of intermediate or high risk, early identification from a screening test can help make sure that the treatment used on the cancer has the best chance for success.
If you believe it is time for you to start being screened for prostate cancer, then you should have a conversation with your urologist. Early detection can be a life saver. For men who are concerned about prostate cancer, the Advance Urology Institute is an excellent place to begin screening.
The level of testosterone hormone in the body naturally declines as a man grows older. In fact, up to 40% of all men aged 45 years and older experience the effects of low testosterone. The symptoms of low testosterone may appear even earlier in some men.
Also called hypogonadism or low-T, low testosterone is characterized by a variety of symptoms such as:
Low libido (decreased sex drive)
Fatigue and lethargy
Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
Reduced testicle size
Breast growth in men (gynecomastia)
Loss of body and facial hair
Muscle weakness
Thinning of bones (osteoporosis)
Moodiness, irritability and depression
Decreased sense of well-being
Increased body fat or reduced muscle mass
Difficulties in concentration
Memory loss and sleep disturbances
Decreased hemoglobin level and mild anemia
Skin changes such as fine wrinkles
Diagnosis of low testosterone
Low-T is diagnosed by measuring the quantity of testosterone in the blood. To clearly assess the level of testosterone, a urologist will request blood tests for both total testosterone and free testosterone. Often, it takes several measurements to confirm that a man has low-T because the levels tend to change throughout the day, with the highest levels occurring in the morning. Testosterone levels are also affected by body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, nutrition, age, illness and certain medications. Additional tests for sex hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) may also be requested by the urologist for a better picture.
Treatment of Low Testosterone
If low-T is diagnosed, the missing hormones may be replaced through hormone replacement therapy, restoring the body’s testosterone levels to normal. In some cases, however, particularly when low-T is diagnosed but no troublesome symptoms are noted, the urologist may not administer any treatment.
For men with bothersome symptoms, the therapy is administered to remove the symptoms and associated sexual problems. Testosterone replacement therapy can be given in different forms and the urologist will discuss options with the patient before deciding on the most appropriate method. After the treatment begins, testosterone levels are monitored to ensure the most effective dose is given.
The different ways of administering testosterone include:
Injections – The urologist gives regular injections deep into a muscle (intramuscular injection) every 2-3 weeks to 3 months depending on the type of injection chosen. When appropriate, the urologist may delegate the task of injecting testosterone to a nurse or teach the patient how to self-inject. When done correctly, the injections are not painful.
Testosterone Implants – Cylindrical pellets are inserted into the abdomen, thigh or buttock by the urologist under local anesthetic, once every 3-6 months.
Testosterone Patches – Used every day and applied on different areas of the body, including arms, back, buttocks and abdomen, the patches work similarly to nicotine patches used by people trying to quit smoking. They deliver testosterone hormone gradually through the skin.
Testosterone Gel – These gels are applied to clean dry skin, usually on the arm, shoulder, back or abdomen. They should be applied after showering to prevent the gel from washing off too quickly.
There are several benefits that can be derived from testosterone replacement therapy. They include:
Improved sexual function
Enhanced mental sharpness
Increased bone density and protection against osteoporosis
Increased muscle mass and loss of body fat
Greater strength and improved physical performance
Enhanced mood and better sense of well-being
Are you experiencing any bothersome symptoms and suspect you could be having low testosterone? Speak with your doctor as soon as possible about the problem. You do not have to live with these symptoms when effective treatment is available. For more information about testosterone replacement therapy, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.
Erectile dysfunction is a common disorder that affects men of all ages. It is a man’s inability to get and maintain an erection. There are many different causes of ED and in many cases there is more than one underlying cause. All a urologist needs is a physical exam and a few questions answered in order to diagnose erectile dysfunction in a patient.
For urologists like Dr. Brian Hale, treatment for erectile dysfunction begins with trying three different medications. The medications are generally oral and easy to take. The urologist will monitor the results of the oral drugs with the patient. Very often, at least one of the oral drugs prescribed will resolve the issue. For these cases, the urologist will write a prescription for the drug and continue to monitor its effectiveness through routine appointments.
If the urologist and the patient are unable to find an oral medication that works effectively, there are other options to consider. One possibility is injection therapy. Small injections into the shaft of the penis are used to dilate the penile arteries, helping increase blood flow, causing an erection. For most men who do not see results with the oral medication, injection therapy is their next best option.
For many men, injection therapy can seem a bit overwhelming at first, maybe even frightening. But in reality, the injections are easy to administer and are relatively painless. The urologist and the patient will begin the injection therapy with a teaching session at the urologist’s office. The urologist may use an ultrasound to monitor the reaction of the blood vessels to the injection to help determine the right dosage for the patient. The patient is also taught how to administer the injection on his own.
Patients are generally pleased after they start injection therapy. The teaching session at the office helps the patient see that the injections are not painful and can easily be done at home. It is very rare that a patient cannot do the injection therapy himself. For those who did not respond positively to the oral drugs, injection therapy is an ideal treatment to produce the desired results and overcome the erectile dysfunction.
Treating erectile dysfunction is an important part of a patient’s well being, both personally and within his relationships. The urologists of the Advanced Urology Institute offer many options for treatment and remain committed to finding the best one for each patient. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.
Kidney stones can be stubborn and painful. In many cases, patients rely on a urologist for help removing these painful obstructions. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals that form in the body and can cause blockage in the urinary tract. Urologists will decide how to treat the stone based on factors like its size, the patient’s health and the amount of pain it’s causing.
One cutting-edge and noninvasive method for treating kidney stones is called shock wave lithotripsy. Board-certified urologist Dr. Brian D. Hale describes it as using water waves to break up the stone. A machine is put against the patient’s body and creates small explosions. The water waves from the explosions target the stone. As many as 2,500 water waves are directed at the stone during a single treatment.
These waves break the stone into small pieces similar to sand. The patient will be able to pass these much smaller pieces with greater ease. The whole treatment takes about 25 minutes. The procedure is mostly pain free but does require the patient to go under general anesthesia. In the early 2000s, patients were not required to go under anesthesia for this procedure. However, it was found that natural movements from the patient made it difficult to concentrate the water waves on the stone, so putting patients under anesthesia is now the general practice.
Each case of kidney stones is different, and noninvasive measures are not always an option. An alternative procedure for stone removal is to use a scope to go up the patient’s penis through the urethra to the kidney and then use a medical laser to break up the stone and pull out the fragments. This is the preferred method for some of the smaller stones that cannot be broken up with shock wave lithotripsy.
For larger stones in the kidney, urologists may recommend a more invasive form of surgery called percutaneous nephrolithotomy. In these cases, the urologist will make a small incision in the patient’s back to reach the kidney directly. The urologist then will use a scope and either a laser or ultrasound energy to break up the stone. This procedure also requires general anesthesia and the patient may need to stay in the hospital for one to two days to recover.
There are many options for patients suffering from painful kidney stones. The many urologists of the Advanced Urology Institute have committed to finding the best options to relieve the pain of kidney stones. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.
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