Endourology

The Endourology Unit at BLK-Max is a part of Renal Sciences and Kidney Transplant Centre. It offers comprehensive treatment for those suffering from the disorders associated with kidney and urinary tract including the urinary system, bladder, and prostate gland. Being one of India’s largest private sector tertiary care hospitals we are proud to offer world-class services by the finest experts covering every major urology and nephrology speciality.

Our team of experienced and dedicated doctors evaluates each endourological case with the finest expertise and offer minimally invasive treatment of stones, tumours, and congenital anomalies of the kidney, ureter, and bladder.

The Centre treats almost all kind of urinary tract conditions using state-of-the-art latest minimally invasive techniques such as

• ESWL Machine Dornier Compact Sigma (used for OPD treatment of kidney stones)
• Urodynamic machine (for voiding problem evaluation)

The Centre is a one-stop point for all problems and has pioneered the ‘Combined Management’ approach with an aim to optimise patient-care on a personalised level and offer high-end treatment approach, in order to help the patient’s quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Endourology?

Endourology is a specific speciality area in urology that promotes minimally invasive techniques using small internal endoscopes, telescopes, and lasers to treat conditions related to tumours, strictures, or congenital anomalies of the bladder, ureter, and kidney.

2. What are the conditions we treat under endourology?

Some of the conditions we treat under endourological procedures can be extremely useful for many patients suffering from:

• Kidney Stones and Kidney tumour
• Ureter Stones and Ureter tumour
• Bladder Stones and Bladder tumour
• Urethral Strictures
• Blockages of the urethra and the ureter
• Enlarged prostate in males

3. What are the different types of endourological procedures?

There are various different and advanced kinds of procedures performed under the branch of Endourology that does not require extensive incisions. An MIS is performed using small cameras known as endoscopes, which are inserted in the urethra, bladder or ureter through small incisions from where the image of the affected area is projected on the screen and doctor locates the problem. Some of the major procedures include:

• Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) technique of minimally invasive surgery is used for the disintegration of stones using a machine called a lithotripter. With the help of the machine, the shock waves are generated which passes through the body in such a manner that their maximum energy is dispersed at the locale of the stone, thereby leading to stone disintegration. The procedure is most suitable for small stones.
• PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy): PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy) is a procedure used to treat stones and tumours within the kidney lining. It works well for all types of stones.
• Ureteroscopy: It is a procedure used to treat conditions of the ureter such as stones and tumours. The upper urinary tract is examined under this procedure using a ureteroscope.
• Cystolithotripsy: It involves the endoscopy of the urinary bladder via the urethra and is used to treat conditions related to bladder stones and tumours. It is also used for removing obstructing prostate tissue in males and the procedure is termed as Transurethral Resurrection of the Prostate or TURP.
• Laparoscopy: In Laparoscopy procedure, keyhole surgery is performed by making a small incision through the abdomen or pelvis. The incision is used to access the organs such as the bladder and kidneys.
• Optical Internal Urethrotomy: This procedure involves the examination of the urethra and is used to conditions related to blockages in the urethra.

4. Are you a candidate for endourology?

Endourology is one of the extremely useful treatments for many patients. Before undergoing the treatment procedure the patient is first evaluated by and endourologist or laparoscopist for its current medical condition.

Your doctor will take into account your complete medical history and the particular nature of the disease to develop a patient-centric treatment plan. However, with the constantly advancing urological techniques, it has become easier for doctors to perform the most complex cases without hurdles.

At BLK-Max we offer a multidisciplinary team approach to provide comprehensive care for the whole course of treatment. You have a high chance of undergoing endourological procedures if you are diagnosed with various conditions of the bladder, ureter, and kidney:

• Stone disease
• Strictures
• Congenital anomalies

5. Are there any complications involved?

Some of the major risk factors associated with endourological procedures include:

• Excessive bleeding
• The risk of infection at the site of the incision
• Wound dehiscence
• Injury to the ureter
• Recurrence of urethral stricture
• Recurrence of stone diseases