Disorders Treated

Urologic Cancers – We treat all forms of urologic cancer, including cancers of the kidney, bladder, urethra and prostate.

Complex Stone Disease – Hardened mineral deposits that can create blockages in the kidneys, gallbladder or ureters, the ducts that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Treatment is based on the size, number and composition of stones.

Fecal Incontinence – Inability to control the release of stool from the intestine, resulting in unintended release of stool

Hematuria – The presence of blood in the urine, indicating bleeding in the urinary tract. This could be a sign of a number of disorders ranging from minor problems to serious diseases.

Interstitial Cystitis – An inflammation of the bladder, which causes difficulty with urination and discomfort or pain in the pelvic area

Chronic Pelvic Pain – A condition lasting at least six months that may or may not have an identifiable cause. When a cause can’t be identified, the treatment’s focus is on management of pain.

Urinary Incontinence and other Voiding Dysfunctions – Inability to control the release of urine from the bladder, resulting in unintended release of urine

Male Urological Conditions

Enlarged Prostate – A common condition for men over the age of 40. It can hinder the ability to urinate or trigger incontinence or other voiding dysfunctions.

Erectile Dysfunction – The inability to achieve or maintain an erection as well as associated problems such as lack of sexual desire or difficulties with ejaculation

Low Testosterone – An insufficiency of the male hormone, which can result in sexual and mood problems. It also can affect development or maintenance of masculine characteristics.

Prostatitis – Inflammation of the prostate gland, which can cause painful urination and ejaculation

Female Urological Conditions

Bladder/Bowel Fistula – An abnormal connection between the bowel or bladder and the vagina or uterus

Pelvic Organ Prolapse – A common condition in women in which the pelvic organs slip out of place and push against the vaginal wall. This can result in constipation, lower back and/or pelvic pain and pain or lack of sensation during intercourse.

Sexual Dysfunction – The inability to have normal sexual intercourse because of anatomic or physiological dysfunction

Vaginal Pain – Pain in the vaginal canal, which can have a variety of causes, including infection, vaginismus, irritation or injury

Treatment for urological disorders is based on the type of condition, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s specific needs.

Botox – This medication can be used to treat severe pelvic floor pain

Cytoscopy – This procedure uses a cytoscope, a thin tube with microscope-like lenses and a light at the tip, to see inside the bladder and urethra. It may have extra tubes to guide other instruments for procedures to treat urinary problems.

Endourology – A minimally invasive procedure using a thin telescopic tube introduced through a body cavity. A wide variety of urologic problems are treated through this method.

Laparascopic surgery – A minimally invasive operation using a laparoscope, a small telescope attached to a camera, and long miniaturized instruments, which are inserted through small incisions

Lithotripsy – A procedure to remove kidney, gallbladder, or other stones. Lithotripsy uses high-energy shockwaves to break the stones into tiny pieces, which can then pass out of the body through urination.

Microwave Therapy – A technique to shrink excess prostate tissue using microwaves delivered through a small microwave antenna attached to a catheter

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy – A technique to help control severe pelvic floor pain

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy – A procedure to remove stones that are too large or in a location that doesn’t allow for lithotripsy. A tube is inserted into the kidney through a small incision in the back. The stone is removed through the tube.

Radiofrequency Ablation – A procedure that kills tumor cells by guiding thin electrodes through the skin to the tumor site. There, the electrodes deliver a mild, painless energy to destroy the tumor cells.

Robot-assisted Surgery
Tampa General Hospital offers robot-assisted surgery for a number of surgical procedures. Called the da Vinci® Surgical System, this system provides the surgeon with enhanced surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved agility, enhanced visualization and easier access to very confined areas of the body while taking a minimally invasive approach during surgery. Benefits for patients include shorter length of stay, less pain, lower risk of infection and quicker recovery.
Photo courtesy of Intuitive Surgical

The system consists of four interactive robotic arms, a surgeon’s control console and an endoscopic tower system that provides high-definition, three-dimensional images in brilliant color and with natural depth of field. During an operation, the surgeon sits at the console, where he/she can see the targeted anatomy while using the console’s master controls to maneuver the robotic arms. These arms hold the dual endoscopic cameras, which provide stereoscopic, high-definition images, and highly specialized instruments capable of moving in any direction, exceeding the range of motion of a human hand.

The system translates the surgeon’s hand movements into extremely precise, tremor-free movements by the instruments. The surgeon can also remotely reposition the camera at any time to obtain the precise view needed

Sacral Neuromodulation – Also called interstim, sacral modulation involves implanting a programmable device in the bowel or bladder to relieve severe bladder or bowel control problems. The device works by delivering a small pulse to nerves controlling the bladder or bowel.

Surgery – A full range of surgical procedures are performed at Tampa General to treat urological conditions

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation/Neuromodulation - A procedure in which a mild electrical current is delivered via electrode patches through the skin to specific nerves. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions including overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis.

Ureteroscopy – A procedure to remove a stone lodged in a ureter, a duct that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder. A thin viewing instrument called a ureteroscope is inserted through the urethra and bladder to the ureter. The physician can either remove the stone by catching it in a small basket at the end of a wire inserted through the ureteroscope or use a laser beam to break the stone into small pieces so it can be excreted.

Urodynamic Testing – Testing to evaluate the bladder and sphincter muscles and how well the bladder and urethra store and release urine

Vasectomy – A procedure make a man sterile by sealing off the two vas deferens, the tubes used to deliver sperm during ejaculation

Vasectomy Reversal – A surgery to reverse the effects of a vasectomy by reopening the vas deferens

Video Urodynamics – A test to evaluate how well the bladder stores and releases urine by taking x-ray images of the bladder during filling and emptying