Introduction
Urology is one of the fastest progressing fields which deals with the management of surgical problems of kidneys, ureter, bladder, prostate, seminal vesicles and other genital organs like the testicles and penis in the males. In the females, besides dealing with management of surgical problems of kidneys, ureter, bladder, it deals with surgical problems of urinary incontinence, the urinary fistula like the ureterovaginal and vesicovaginal communications.
The Department of Urology has the distinction of being the first of its kind in any non-government hospital in north India. The department was formally started in 1982 with Dr. BK Vohra as its head. It has many firsts to its credit. The Department was recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Govt. of India in 1986. The Department comprises of 12 full time faculty and 9 post graduates residents and fellows all committed to provide exceptional and innovative patient care.
Chronological Order of Firsts for the Department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
Year |
Procedure |
• 1975 | TURP |
• 1983 |
Urodynamics |
• 1987 |
PCNL |
• 2000 |
ESWL |
• 2002 |
Laparoscopic Urology |
• 2005 |
Laser Prostatectomy |
• 2010 |
RIRS |
• 2012 |
Robotic Surgery |
• 2019 |
Cognitive Fusion Biopsy for Prostate cancer |
• 2019 |
Mini PCNL |
Subspecialties
1. Robotic Surgeries
Surgery is performed by the surgeon using a console that controls instruments attached to a robot, allowing the robot to act exactly the way the surgeon does. It is technically more advanced and precise form of minimally invasive surgery. There is increased motion range, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization thus improving quality of surgery and its outcome. The blood loss is reduced, and less pain shortens the hospital stay and faster functional recovery. Various surgeries performed by Robot are done for cancers of prostate, kidney and bladder, adrenal gland. Reconstruction of birth defects in kidney and ureter like pyeloplasty, re implantation of ureter, Boari flap, repair of VVF/UVF (urine leak from vagina) following uterus operations.
2. Uro-oncology
The Hospital is coming up with start of the art advance cancer centre, fully equipped with radiotherapy. We are already treating all types of genito-urinary cancers including adrenal, kidney, bladder, prostate, testis, and penis. These are treated with radical surgery as indicated. Department is fully equipped for Cognitive MR Guided Prostate Biopsy. Best possible management for advanced treatment of Uro-Oncology cancers with inclusion of Robot in armamentarium, provides the full range & quality of surgery. Multidisciplinary (Tumor Board) meets help in treatment planning of cancer patients.
3. Endourology
All operations for stone in kidney, ureter bladder are removed endoscopically. Procedures like PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy), endopyelotomy, ureteroscopy and RIRS are routinely done. Operations for enlarged obstructing prostate like TURP, Bipolar TURP, and HOLEP are done as standard of care. Trans urethral resection of prostate is being done in our department for more than three decades. The department has a 100 watt holmium laser for treating stone disease as well as Prostate disease. Minimization of PCNL has helped in treating big stones with small incision & no tubes.
4. Andrology
This subspecialty relates to male sexual disorders such as impotence, and male infertility. Psychosexual counselling and procedures like Penile implants are being done for those patients not responding to other treatment.
5. Male Infertility
Sperm retrieval by all techniques like TESA, MESA and PESA for micromanipulation like ICSI is done in coordination with department of IVF. Operations such as vaso-epididymal anastomosis are performed for obstructive azoospermia.
6. Laparoscopic Urology
The hospital was one of the earliest to start laparoscopy for kidney surgery. In 2004, country’s first laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and in 2005 first extra peritoneal prostate cancer surgery was done. Today a majority of kidney surgeries like nephrectomies are being done laparoscopically with excellent results. Over 5000 operations have been done in last 21 years. Laparoscopic technique decrease the postoperative pain, hospital stays and gives good cosmetic results
7. Urodynamics
This was the first department in Delhi to start urodynamic studies in 1983. We have the latest state of the art urodynamics machine from Denmark. Patients from various hospitals all over North India are referred for urodynamic studies to our department for better understanding of lower tract dysfunction and neurogenic bladder.
8. Reconstructive Urology
Expertise is offered for all variety of upper and lower tracts reconstructive problems including pyeloplasty, ileal replacement of ureter, Boari flap, and augmentation cystoplasty, whole range of urethral and genital reconstruction. Urethroplasty using buccal mucosa or penile skin is routinely done for complex urethral strictures.
9. Uro-gynaecology
Treatment for stress urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary infection, and urinary fistulae is available. TVT, TOT (slings) for stress incontinence are being inserted on a regular basis.
10. ESWL (Lithotripsy)
Non-invasive technique in which stones are broken by application of shock waves with latest shock wave generation Dornier lithotripsy machine. Approximately 10000 patients have been successfully treated with lithotripsy. It has got advantages that it can be done without hospitalisation and anaesthesia. Patients can resume their work early after the procedure.
Academics
The department has been running a well structured successful DNB program since 2002 and positions for training here are coveted. There is a teaching program where all aspects of urology and renal transplant are covered. The DNB trainees have done well in their urological career after graduating from this hospital. The department organizes regularly annual workshops and CME programmes inviting national and international faculty for promoting academics in Urology. Our Consultants are invited as faculty for national and international conferences and scientific papers & videos are presented routinely at all urology forums. DNB trainees have to submit theses as part of academic curriculum and these have been well received. Currently three Residents are admitted every year.
Urology Faculty in the Department