The most effective methods to treat prostate, bladder and pelvic disorders are available at Northside Hospital. We have nationally renowned surgeons in urological and urological gynecology laparoscopy.
Northside ranks in the top 10% of all robotic prostatectomy programs in the nation. By using robotic technology, Northside surgeons are allowed a greater range of motion than humanly possible and the ability to perform more precise, less invasive procedures. As a result, our patients experience reduced post-operative pain and shorter recovery times. Read more about our robotic surgery program.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in American men. More cases of prostate cancer are treated at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute than any other local hospital. For men undergoing prostatectomy (prostate removal), technologies like robotics reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, enabling them to continue having active, productive lives.
With a traditional open procedure, your surgeon uses an 8-10 inch incision to access the prostate. This approach often results in substantial blood loss, a lengthy, uncomfortable recovery, and a risk of impotence and incontinence. Conventional laparoscopy has some technical limitations that can be challenging for the surgeon therefore, very few urologists use this approach for prostatectomy. Moreover, neither laparoscopy nor open surgery can provide adequate visualization for a very precise, nerve-sparing prostatectomy. Robotic surgery has the ability to overcome these obstacles.
Northside ranks in the top 10% of all robotic prostatectomy programs in the United States.
Surgery offers the best cure rates for individuals suffering from ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction and other kidney diseases.
UPJ obstruction is a condition in which urine flow is blocked at the juncture between the kidney and the ureter, the tube that carries urine to the bladder. The condition can lead to kidney failure. Robotic pyeloplasty corrects the obstruction without the discomfort of the traditional open technique’s large incision and permanent, disfiguring scar. In addition, suturing the ureter is easier for the surgeon and allows for an extremely precise repair.
Northside surgeons performed the first robotic pyeloplasty (kidney reconstruction) in Georgia.
Partial and radical nephrectomy (kidney removal) – offered laparoscopically and robotically – also is available.
More than 74,000 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. annually. Surgery is recommended in most cases. Robotic surgery incorporates the best techniques of open surgery and applies them to a robotic-assisted, minimally invasive approach.
Northside surgeons performed the first robotic-assisted cystectomy (bladder removal) in Georgia.
Urinary incontinence, a condition in which the bladder leaks, can have several different causes. Sometimes it is just an occasional problem when you cough or laugh. However, for those who have a more regular battle with this condition and for whom less-invasive treatment options have not worked, surgery offers a more permanent option.
For a bladder that has been weakened by pregnancy and childbirth, there are several surgical solutions:
Learn more about Northside's Urodiagnostics Center for additional treatment options for urinary incontinence.
Prolapse (or falling) of any pelvic floor organ (vagina, uterus, bladder or rectum) occurs when the connective tissues or muscles within the body cavity are weak and unable to hold the pelvis in its natural position. Approximately one-quarter of women in the U.S. have some sort of pelvic organ prolapse.
Women experiencing pelvic organ prolapse typically have problems with urinary incontinence, vaginal ulceration, sexual dysfunction, and/or having a bowel movement. Sacral colpopexy surgically corrects the prolapse and the problems it incurs such as urinary incontinence, vaginal ulceration, sexual dysfunction and/or having a bowel movement. This procedure is available both laparoscopically and robotically at Northside.
Aquablation therapy is a new type of surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We know choosing a treatment option can be overwhelming, as it often forces men to compromise in some way. This could mean not responding well to medication, or choosing a treatment that only provides limited relief, that may have a long recovery time, or that may even cause issues with sexual function.
Aquablation therapy is a one-of-a-kind procedure that aims to minimize this compromise. At Northside Hospital, we are proud to be among the first in the state to offer this advanced, minimally invasive treatment.
