In-Office Urological Procedures

By Vladimir Kakitelashvili, MD, PhD

La Plata Urology Center, LLC

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In-Office Urological Procedures

Your urologist may be able to perform many procedures in the office at a reduced fee compared to the same procedure in the hospital. The most common procedures are described below. To learn more about the particular procedure that interests you, contact your urologist.

Vasectomy Procedure

A vasectomy is becoming one of the most popular methods of permanent prevention of pregnancy for modern couples. It is affordable, effective and relatively free of risk.

A vasectomy opens the skin of a man’ scrotum, through which the sperm ducts can be easily reached and permanently severed. Surgically severing the vas deferens prevents sperm from reaching the seminal vesicles and the prostate. It does not stop the testicles from producing sperm or testosterone. Start to finish, the whole procedure will take about 20-30 minutes. When the procedure is over you will be ready to dress and leave.

Cystoscopy

When you have a urinary problem, your doctor may use a cystoscope to see inside your bladder and urethra. The cystoscope has lenses like a telescope or microscope. These lenses let the doctor focus on the inner surfaces of the urinary tract. The cystoscope is as thin as a pencil and has a light at the tip. Your doctor may recommend cystoscopy for any of the following conditions

frequent urinary tract infections

blood in your urine

unusual cells found in urine sample

painful urination, chronic pelvic pain, or interstitial cystitis

urinary blockage such as prostate enlargement, stricture, or narrowing of the urinary tract

Prostate Biopsy

A needle biopsy of the prostate is a procedure in which your doctor removes tiny pieces of tissue from your prostate gland. The bits of tissue are then studied under a microscope to see if there are any abnormalities.

A needle biopsy is done when your doctor has good reason to suspect that you may have prostate cancer. Your doctor will probably recommend that you have a needle biopsy if

A digital rectal exam has revealed abnormalities in the size, shape, or texture of your prostate, and/or

Your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level is abnormally elevated. PSA is a protein made by prostate cells. The PSA blood test is an important screening test for the early detection of prostate cancer.

These abnormalities may be the result of the normal aging process, or they may indicate that there is a problem with your prostate, such as an infection, a noncancerous (benign) tumor, or cancer.