Latest Technologies in Urological Surgery

Robotic surgery system in surgeries

Robotic surgery system has improved the vision, dexterity and accuracy of surgical operations. The robots can aid in removal of prostate cancer cells and small kidney tumours. Recently, it is also used in non-cancerous urological conditions, including reconstructive surgeries in pelvi-uteric junction obstruction (PUJO), a condition in which the flow of urine from the kidney to the ureter is blocked.

The robotic machine is controlled by a surgeon during the operation. The machine acts as an enhanced engineering instruments in hopes to conduct better surgeries. It improves visuals of the surgical site by providing high definition three-dimensional images. Employing surgical robotic arms also results in higher surgical precision and accuracy during stitching. When robotics is utilised by a skilled and well-trained surgeon, patients reported less pain, less blood loss and better recovery.

Improvements in urinary stone therapy

When surgery is indicated to remove urinary stones, the outcome improved from having large surgical scars to smaller ones, and eventually scarless. One of the techniques that enabled scarless surgeries is the use of flexible utero-renoscopes (URS), in which the apparatus is inserted through the ureter into the kidney. The flexible URS can bend itself in the correct orientation within the kidney urinary collecting system. When kidney stones are in sight, laser beams are used to disintegrate the stones.

Molecular and genetic tests for cancer

Some common urological cancers are prostate cancer, bladder cancer and testis cancer. Conducting genetic tests can determine if the cancer could become more aggressive in early stage low-risk prostate cancer. As the cancer progresses, international guidelines are available to detect specific gene mutations related to advanced metastatic prostate cancer. On the other hand, molecular tests can investigate for bladder cancer in patients with blood in urine.

This article was contributed by PanAsia Surgery Group. PanAsia Surgery Group is a multi-specialty surgery group practice that provides personalised and comprehensive care for emergency and elective surgeries. You can find and book an appointment with any of PanAsia Surgery Group’s consultants with GetDoc at these clinics: 

• The PanAsia Surgery Group (Novena)
• The PanAsia Surgery Group (Mt Elizabeth Orchard) 
• The PanAsia Surgery Group (Parkway East Medical Centre)

Tags

• Cancer
• genetic test
• molecular test
• robotic surgery
• robotic surgical system
• urinary stone
• URS