Endourology is a specialist section of urology, which involves using minimally invasive surgical techniques to investigate and diagnose conditions that affect the urinary tract.
Endourology procedures are performed using small endoscopes and instrumentation such as lasers, ureteric stents and retrieval baskets. These procedures can be performed without making an incision and use the natural tubes within the body to investigate the urinary tract.
Some of the advantages of an endourology procedure include:
Some of the different types of endourological procedures include:
Cystoscopy – A powerful thin camera called a cystoscope is used to see inside the bladder via the urethra. The cystoscope is hollow which allows small instruments to passed down to treat any bladder problems.
Ureteroscopy – A ureteroscope is passed through the urethra and bladder and directly into the ureter in the upper urinary tract. It allows us to remove and break up stones and other suspicious-looking fragments that are blocking the ureter.
Nephroscopy/renoscopy – This is an endourological procedure that allows doctors to examine the inside of the kidneys using a nephroscope, a thin flexible tube with a camera on the end. This is used in the treatment of kidney stones and other conditions in the kidneys, such as tumours and issues with the upper urinary tract.
Your consultant will be able to talk you through what type of surgical procedure you will need and if you will specifically benefit from endourology techniques.
