Urology Services for Men and Women
Catholic Health's board-certified urologists provide comprehensive care for a full spectrum of disorders and conditions of the bladder, urinary tract, prostate and reproductive system.
Our team of experts combines clinical excellence with a compassionate, patient-centered approach to provide expert care for a wide range of urological conditions.
We utilize the latest technology and the most advanced medical techniques and therapies, including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive procedures, to treat illness, improve function and restore quality of life.
Urology Specialties
Bladder Health
Kidney Health
Prostate Health
Male Reproductive and Sexual Health
Urogynecology & Pelvic Health
Urologic Cancers
Advanced Diagnosis of Urological Conditions
Urinary evaluations include a detailed medical history and physical examination, an assessment of urinary and pelvic symptoms, a review of personal and family history and lifestyle factors. Additional tests may include:
- Blood tests to detect infection or inflammation
- Urine tests including Post-void residual urine test (PVR)
- Cystoscopy - uses a scope to view the inside of the bladder and urethra
Imaging studies including X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET scan, bone scan
Robotic Assisted Surgery
Our experienced surgeons utilize the latest robotic-assisted technology to perform various surgical techniques including:
- Nephrectomy: Partial or total removal of the kidney
- Cystectomy: Removal of the bladder
- Prostatectomy - Removal of the prostate
- Pyeloplasty: Reconstruction of the kidney to relieve blockages
- Sacrocolpopexy: Treatment for pelvic organ prolapse in women
These techniques offer significant benefits over traditional surgery, including less pain and scarring, less risk of infection and blood loss, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays.
Learn more
Advanced Kidney Stone Treatment
The first option is observation and
trying to expel the stone on your own.
00:12.820 --> 00:19.300
In those cases, we recommend drinking a lot of
water, and we can give medications that help
00:19.400 --> 00:22.160
open up the urinary tract
and help the stone pass.
00:22.230 --> 00:25.160
That can be a good option
for small to medium stones.
00:25.460 --> 00:31.820
For stones that get stuck, there are
three procedures that can be performed.
00:32.240 --> 00:36.340
One procedure is called a
ureteroscopy laser lithotripsy.
00:36.500 --> 00:41.780
You basically put a camera up through the
urethra, so you don't make any new cuts into
00:41.800 --> 00:48.460
the body, and you go up to the stone, and you
sand it down to fine sand using a laser and
00:48.520 --> 00:51.480
wash it out.
Third option is for larger
00:51.500 --> 00:52.960
and more complex stones.
00:53.110 --> 00:55.940
It is also a minimally
invasive treatment option.
00:56.380 --> 00:58.670
It's called a percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
00:59.420 --> 01:04.019
With that procedure, we use ultrasound and
X-ray to make a small hole through the skin
01:04.060 --> 01:09.280
into the kidney, around the size of my pinky,
and we're able to pull the stones out through
01:09.340 --> 01:11.860
that hole using an endoscopic camera.
01:11.870 --> 01:18.620
Another minimally invasive option for kidney
stones is to deliver shock waves to the
01:18.720 --> 01:20.780
stone from outside of your body.
01:20.790 --> 01:24.930
This breaks the stone into smaller
pieces and allows those pieces to then
01:24.980 --> 01:26.680
be expelled by the body.
01:26.740 --> 01:33.400
The fifth option is available for only
some kidney stone formers, and that's
01:33.440 --> 01:34.690
dissolving the stone.
01:34.770 --> 01:41.380
A calcium stone cannot be dissolved because
anything that would melt a calcium stone would
01:41.800 --> 01:43.920
melt your skeleton in the process.
01:44.060 --> 01:49.240
However, sometimes based on a CAT scan and
different characteristics in your urine,
01:49.320 --> 01:55.760
particularly if your urine is very acidic, we
can make the diagnosis of a uric acid stone,
01:55.800 --> 02:00.640
which is around one in six patients, and in
those patients, if you make the urine less
02:00.660 --> 02:03.460
acidic, the stones will dissolve like magic.
Advanced Kidney Stone Treatment
The experienced team of urologists at Catholic Health offers minimally invasive techniques, including stentless procedures, to safely and effectively remove kidney stones. Stentless procedures help patients avoid the discomfort of a stent and facilitate a faster, less painful recovery.
This treatment uses high-frequency sound waves that create strong vibrations to break the stones into tiny pieces that can be passed in urine. This is the most minimally invasive procedure for a stone as nothing enters the body.
A scope is inserted through the urethra and bladder and into the ureter. A laser is then used to break up the stone. A small tube called a stent may be temporarily placed in the ureter to relieve swelling and ensure that the urine flows properly after the stone is removed. This is a form of natural orifice surgery in which no incisions are made in the skin.
A small incision (less than half of an inch in size) is made in the back, and a thin telescopic instrument called a nephroscope is inserted directly into the kidney. An ultrasound probe breaks apart and removes the stones. This is generally utilized for larger and more complex stones.
Advanced Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Catholic Health has a team of experienced urologists who offer advanced treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED). Treatment for ED depends on the cause and may include lifestyle changes or medication. If those treatments are unsuccessful, the following treatment options may be effective.
Also referred to as a penis pump: it is a plastic tube that is placed over the penis to help with ED. The device consists of a plastic cylinder and pump, which creates a vacuum that pulls blood into the penis creating an erection, and a constriction ring that helps to maintain it.
More permanent treatments include surgical implants, where a penile prosthesis is surgically inserted. Two types of implants are commonly used to treat ED:
- Inflatable Penile Prosthesis: A pump and two cylinders are placed within the erection chambers of the penis, which causes an erection by releasing a saline solution.
- Semi-rigid Penile Prosthesis: Two semi-rigid but bendable rods are placed within the erection chambers of the penis, to allow manipulation into an erect or non-erect position.
Penile implants are usually not considered until other methods of treatment have been unsuccessful. Implants typically have a high patient satisfaction rate and can be an alternative solution for appropriate patients.