Urology

We use special imaging to help us accurately identify and treat your condition, including:

• Cystograms
• Cystoscopies
• Cystourethrograms and voiding cystourethrograms
• Ultrasounds
• X-rays

Other diagnostic tools include physical exams, urine evaluations, stress tests and urodynamic tests.

The ureter is a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder so urine can flow through. Ureteral injuries may not be immediately detected. These injuries can be potentially life-threatening or result in permanent damage. It is important to repair them, using surgery if needed.

Some of the most common ureteral conditions that might require surgery include:

• An injury resulting from an external trauma
• Infections
• Radiation sickness (typically from radiation therapy for cervical cancer)
• Retroperitoneal fibrosis (from inflammation or autoimmune disease)
• Scarring or damage from a previous surgery
• Vesicoureteral reflux

Minimally invasive robotic urologic surgery

Our urologists emphasize minimally invasive procedures and nonsurgical treatments when possible. Our kidney, bladder and urinary program features state-of-the-art robotic surgery. Specially trained surgeons use robotic components and operating tools to enhance their surgical precision while minimizing incisions, blood loss and pain.

Our specialists perform the following robotic procedures:

• Bladder suspension (for female stress incontinence)
• Cryosurgery for prostate cancer (freezing and killing abnormal cells using small probes as an alternative to surgically removing tumors)
• Cystectomy (removal of all or part of the bladder)
• Nephrectomy (removal of all or part of the kidney)
• Orchiectomy (removal of one or both of the testicles)
• Prostatectomy (removal of all or part of the prostate)
• Pyeloplasty (to help drain and decompress the kidney)
• Robotic pyeloplasty (for ureteropelvic junction obstruction)
• Robotic simple prostatectomy (removal of a section of the prostate)
• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
• Ureteral reimplant surgery (for vesicoureteral reflux)

We also offer advanced programs and care for:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) or male incontinence: To treat ED, we typically use hormone replacement therapy and may also recommend lifestyle changes, medications, behavioral health therapy, vacuum devices and/or surgery.
• Incontinence and overactive bladder: Treatments for this condition can be very effective and may include:
  • Behavioral modification techniques
  • Physical therapy
  • Medication
  • Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)
  • Botulinum toxin (commonly known as "Botox") injections
  • Surgery
• Testosterone deficiency: We use hormone replacement therapy as the primary treatment for low testosterone.

Urogynecology combines urologic and gynecological care for women. Our board-certified gynecologists and urologists diagnose and treat women's pelvic conditions.

Our urogynecology specialists are able to treat many of these conditions with robotic surgery, which offers less scarring, a quicker recovery and a shorter hospital stay for patients. We also offer several innovative interventional radiology (minimally invasive) procedures for infertility, uterine fibroids and pelvic congestion syndrome.

The causes of BPH, also known as an enlarged prostate, are uncertain, but there are several risk factors related to developing an enlarged prostate, such as age and family history.

Our treatments for an enlarged prostate include medication, prostate artery embolization (PAE), transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) (laser therapy), transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) and robotic surgical intervention.

Prostatic hydroablation therapy for BPH

Sky Ridge Medical Center was the first facility in Colorado to offer prostatic hydroablation therapy. This is a safe and effective, robotic surgical treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by BPH.

With this therapy, there are two simple steps:

• Creating a surgical map
• Removing the prostate tissue