Urological techniques include minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic surgery, laser-assisted surgeries, and other scope-guided procedures. Urologists receive training in open and minimally invasive surgical techniques, employing real-time ultrasound guidance, fiber-optic endoscopic equipment, and various lasers in the treatment of multiple benign and malignant conditions. Urology is closely related to (and urologists often collaborate with the practitioners of) oncology, nephrology, gynecology, andrology, pediatric surgery, colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, and endocrinology.

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Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine that stick together to form small "pebbles." They can be as small as grains of sand or as large as golf balls. Kidney stones form when a change occurs in the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other things found in urine.  Kidney stones often cause no pain while they are in the kidneys. But they can cause sudden, severe pain as they travel from the kidneys to the bladder. Your doctor will ask you questions about your pain and lifestyle. He or she will examine you and may do imaging tests such as a CT scan or an ultrasound to look at your kidneys and urinary tract.

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Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size, location, and what type they are.

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• Watching and waiting for the stone to fall;

Small (of 4-5 mm.)  kidney stones may pass through your urinary tract without treatment about 50%. It can usually be expected for about three to four weeks, but the stone might damage the kidneys due the blockage. The doctor may advise you to drink plenty of liquids if you are able to help move a kidney stone along and also may prescribe pain medicine.

Larger kidney stones or kidney stones that block your urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment. If you are vomiting and dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital and get fluids through an IV.

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• The most common treatment is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

 ESWL uses shock waves to break a kidney stone into small pieces. The bits can pass out of your body in your urine. Other times, a doctor will need to remove the stone or place a small flexible plastic tube (called a stent) in the ureter to keep it open while stones pass. The success rate is close to 90%. The reasons for the failure of the operation include the size, stiffness, location of the stone, and the patient's inability to tolerate this operation. Even a slowly progressing, but a very harmless and safe method that might require a few sessions. Until today, millions of people's stones have been removed with this method.

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• Endoscopic Treatment Methods;

Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy; During cystoscopy, the doctor uses a cystoscope to look inside the urethra and bladder to find a stone in your urethra or bladder. During ureteroscopy, the doctor uses a ureteroscope, which is longer and thinner than a cystoscope. The doctor inserts the cystoscope or ureteroscope through the urethra to see the rest of the urinary tract. Once the stone is found, the doctor can remove it or break it into smaller pieces. The doctor performs these procedures in the hospital with anesthesia. You can typically go home the same day.

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• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy; 

The doctor uses a thin viewing tool, called a nephoscope, to locate and remove the kidney stone. The doctor inserts the tool directly into your kidney through a small cut made in your back. For larger kidney stones, the doctor also may use a laser to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces. The doctor performs percutaneous nephrolithotomy   with anesthesia. You may have to stay in the hospital for several days after the procedure.

After these procedures, sometimes the urologist may leave a thin flexible tube, called a ureteral stent, in your urinary tract to help urine flow or a stone to pass. Once the kidney stone is removed, your doctor sends the kidney stone or its pieces to a lab to find out what type it is.

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After you have had kidney stones, you are more likely to have them again. The recurrence rate is about %60. You can help prevent them by drinking plenty of water, enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water, about 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. You may have to eat less of certain foods. Your doctor may also give you medicine that helps prevent stones from forming.

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Risk Groups for Kidney Stones;

• Low level water drinkers

• People with family history

• Obesity

• Those who consume a lot of salt

• Those who consume excessive cola, soda, mineral water

• Those with metabolic and endocrine diseases (gout, diabetes, intestinal absorption problems, hyperparathyroidism, etc.)

• Protein-rich foods consumers

• Alcoholism

• Those with congenital anomalies in the urinary tract

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Green-Light Laser

GreenLight™ Laser PVP – The Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate

GreenLight™ Laser PVP is a procedure used in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate gland resulting in the urethral restriction. The prostate is a small gland circling the urethra immediately below the neck of the bladder. It has a vital function in the male reproductive system by secreting a fluid into the urethra during ejaculation.

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Is Greenlight™ Laser PVP Treatment right for me?

GreenLight™ Laser PVP is a recent addition to the minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of BPH. The procedure uses the technology of high-powered laser light combined with fiber optics to vaporize the overgrowth of prostate cells quickly and accurately. As the surgeon directs the laser at the prostate, the intense pulses of light emitted from the fiber are absorbed by the blood. Within moments, the temperature of the blood becomes so great it causes the nearby cells to vaporize. GreenLight™ is being used as an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)and has been shown to be its equal in terms of effectiveness in an improvement of symptoms. There is growing interest in this technique by patients and practitioners because of its simplicity and efficiency.

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Advantages of Green Light Laser for Enlarged Prostate

• It is safe; precisely vaporizing the overgrowth of prostate cells without damage to surrounding tissues and vessels.

• Minimum invasiveness; No major surgical procedure required to reach the site to be treated. It is applied through the urinary tract.

• Allows for various anesthetic options; Patients who are at risk of surgery with general anesthesia offer the opportunity to operate with spinal or local anesthesia.

• Minimal bleeding

• Discharge on the same day

• Resume normal activities in 2 to 3 days with caution

• Return to vigorous activity level in 4 to 6 weeks

• Complications occur infrequently and are mild if they do

• Post-operative impotence has not been associated with PVP

• Erectile Dysfunction is not typical in PVP patients

• Long-term success in improved urine flow

• Fewer symptoms of urinary obstruction

• It can also be applied to large prostate growths: The Greenlight Laser is used in all forms of growth that can occur in the prostate.

• The effectiveness is quite high: GreenLight™ Laser PVP surgery, which has been used for 8-9 years in the treatment of benign growth of prostate, is receiving increasing acceptance in the world. Its efficacy and reliability have been proven over a long period of time and reliability has been confirmed by FDA approval.

• The result obtained is permanent: the results of prostate treatment with Greenlight are continuous, as well as closed and open prostate surgeries.

 

Prostate Diseases

Every man, from the age of 40, grows naturally in the prostate. By the age of 60, a benign prostate enlargement is seen in 60% of men. Every growing prostate does not create a problem. However, it may cause urinary tract obstruction, requiring treatment in one third of the cases.

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Prostate Growth Indications;

When the urinary tract becomes clogged, there is a feeling of weakening urine flow, forcing urination, and not having complete urination. If we make an analogy, it resembles a tap that is dripping. Except those; bleeding, burning, dripping, urinary incontinence, frequent urination, waking from sleep to urinate at night, and ensuing, sexual life and quality of life may be deteriorating.

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Prostate diseases can be gathered into 3 groups:

• Prostate inflammation (prostatitis),

• benign growths (benign prostatic hyperplasia)

• and prostate cancer.

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While there are more inflammatory problems at an early age, the likelihood of developing benign growth or cancer gradually increases after 50 years.

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Diagnosis of Prostate Disease;

First of all, you need to know if you have cancer in the enlarged prostate that is causing the problem. Second, it is essential to determine whether treatment of the enlarged organ is necessary. For these purposes, a test with a finger examination of the prostate, urine analysis, prostate specific antigen testing (PSA), urine flow measurement (Urolovometry) and transrectal ultrasonography are required. Biopsy is a must for people with suspected parts (cancer) to ensure the diagnosis.

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Treatment in Prostate Growth;

1) Drug Treatment

2) Surgical Treatment - Today, open surgery is not the preferred option anymore. Closed surgeries should always be preferred. Also look at our Green-Light Laser Prostate surgery page.

3) Monitoring

 

Prostate cancer;

Examination, blood tests (total and free PSA) and ultimately prostate biopsy is needed for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. There are various methods for treatment today. These are; surgical treatments, drug treatments, radiotherapy, HIFU, brachytherapy, cryotherapy.

Negotiations and exchange of opinions between the patient and the doctor should help to determine by the choice of the treatment method. Suspicious cases can be followed by blood test (PSA).  In the presence of a multiparametric MR, the identification of the cancerous focus is studied and fusion biopsies can be performed from those regions. In recent years, genetic causes have come to the forefront.

Patients are informed about the status of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes by genetic testing, and even if these genes are mutated, prophylactic treatment is recommended.

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Uroflowmetry

Uroflowmetry is a test that measures the volume of urine released from the body, the speed with which it is released, and how long the release takes.

How the Test is Performed; You will urinate in a urinal or toilet fitted with a machine that has a measuring device. You will be asked to begin urinating after the machine has started. When you finish, the machine will make a report for your doctor

 

Preparing for a uroflow test;

There is no need to fast or adjust your normal food intake prior to the test. Your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop taking some medications that can affect test results.

You may be instructed to drink several glasses of water in the hours before the test is performed. Please arrive for your appointment with a comfortably full bladder.

 

What is a cystoscopy?

A cystoscope is a thin tube with a camera and light on the end. During a cystoscopy, a doctor inserts this tube through your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your bladder) and into your bladder so they can visualize the inside of your bladder. Magnified images from the camera are displayed on a screen where your doctor can see them. Your doctor might order this test if you have urinary problems, such as a constant need to urinate or painful urination. Your doctor might also order the procedure to investigate reasons for: blood in your urine, frequent urinary tract infections, an overactive bladder, and pelvic pain. A cystoscopy can reveal several conditions, including bladder tumors, stones, or cancer.

 

Preparing for a cystoscopy;

Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics before and after the procedure if you have a UTI or a weak immune system. You may also need to give a urine sample before the test. If your doctor plans to give you general anesthesia, you’ll feel groggy afterward. That means before the procedure, you’ll need to arrange a ride home. Plan to take time to rest at home after the procedure, as well.

Ask your doctor if you can continue taking any regular medications.

 

Sexual Dysfunction;

If the male is not able to provide enough erection for sexual intercourse, or if he is ejaculating prematurely during the intercourse, there is a benefit to see a urologist. Erection problems are usually due to psychological reasons, but also hormonal, vascular and neurological causes should be investigated. Like the occlusion of the heart vessels, the penis veins can also become clogged. Hormones can change with age. Associated diseases can disrupt the erection mechanism of men. Thus, as men age, the quality of erection diminishes. According to the statistics, 7 out of 10 men between ages 40 to 70 have been reported with this problem. Diabetes, hormonal imbalances accelerate the problem. In addition, drug users, drug addicts, people undergo psychological treatment and some heart, blood pressure and nerve drugs users are more likely experience erection defects.

After the examinations and tests, the medicines that are used commonly today, or medicine used right before the intercourse are very useful. Some newly developed drugs are partially successful in the treatment of premature ejaculation. A penile prosthesis is another treatment option for men with erectile dysfunction. With a simple operation, these prosthesis bars are inserted into the penis and after a patient education, they have a lifetime of a seamless sex life.

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Turkey Urology Surgery Prices     

The table below gives an idea of what some common treatments like Myomectomy, Tubal Ligation costs in Turkey. These prices are just approximate – you’ll need to request a quotation from us you’re interested in – but they show just how low prices in Turkey can be. Even once you pay for flights and accommodation, you could still save significantly on your treatment.