Kidney Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Urology Clinics Manchester

Robotic Kidney Surgery

January 9, 2023 in Kidney

Robotic kidney surgery is a minimally invasive type of surgery in which your incisions are about the size of a buttonhole. Your surgeon will use these tiny incisions to access virtually any part of your urinary system to perform necessary repairs.

In robotic kidney surgery, your surgeon sits at a surgical console, placing their hands on specialised controllers as they view the surgery site on a high-definition monitor. The controllers relay every movement directly to surgical instruments within the robotic arms in the patient cart by your side.

The robotic arms are 100% under the control of your surgeon at every moment of your surgery. The robotic arms act as an extension of your surgeon’s own hands, adding far more flexibility and more precision than human hands can manage.

Your surgeon still performs the robotic kidney surgery. It’s simply a more efficient way to perform highly technical surgeries with less damage to the patient.

Robotic kidney surgery has many advantages, such as :

Precision: More precision than traditional open surgery
Infection risk: Greatly reduced infection risk due to small incision size
Recovery: Faster recovery than with open (traditional) surgery
Healing: Fast healing because of reduced bleeding, swelling, and bruising
Shorter hospital stay: Many robotic surgeries are even outpatient
Another significant advantage of robotic surgery is that it can precisely remove damaged tissue, like prostate cancer, without impairing continence or sexual function long-term. For many serious urologic conditions that were previously treated with complicated open surgeries, robotic surgery is now the best answer.

Many urological surgeries can be performed robotically today, including:

Prostatectomy: Partial or total prostate gland removal
Nephrectomy: Removal of one or both kidneys
Cyst removal: Kidney cyst removal
Cystectomy: Removal of part or all of the bladder
Pyeloplasty: Renal pelvic reconstruction
Ureteral implantation: Repair of the ureters, the tubes connecting your bladder and kidneys
Other types of urologic surgery might also be done robotically, based on the situation and a patient’s needs.

If you would like to learn more about how robotic surgery can help resolve your urological conditions, please call us on 0161 327 1269 or email us at info@urologyclinics.co.uk. Visit our kidney clinic page here.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Urinary Symptoms

April 12, 2022 in Bladder, Kidney

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra.

Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men. Infection limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI spreads to your kidneys.

Doctors typically treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. But you can take steps to reduce your chances of getting a UTI in the first place.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a UTI depend on what part of the urinary tract is infected.

Lower tract UTI symptoms

Lower tract UTIs affect the urethra and bladder. Symptoms of a lower tract UTI include:

burning with urination
increased frequency of urination without passing much urine
increased urgency of urination
bloody urine
cloudy urine
urine that looks like cola or tea
urine that has a strong odour
pelvic pain in women
rectal pain in men

Upper tract UTI symptoms

Upper tract UTIs affect the kidneys. These can be potentially life threatening if bacteria move from the infected kidney into the blood. This condition, called urosepsis, can cause dangerously low blood pressure, shock, and death.

Symptoms of an upper tract UTI include:

pain and tenderness in the upper back and sides
chills
fever
nausea
vomiting

UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults.

UTI symptoms in men

Symptoms of an upper tract urinary infection in men are similar to those in women. However, men with a lower tract UTI may sometimes also experience rectal pain

Types of urinary tract infection

Each type of UTI may result in more-specific signs and symptoms, depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected.


Part of urinary tract affected	Signs and symptoms
Kidneys (acute pyelonephritis)	Back pain or side (flank) pain High fever Shaking and chills Nausea Vomiting
Bladder (cystitis)	Pelvic pressure Lower abdomen discomfort Frequent, painful urination Blood in urine
Urethra (urethritis)	Burning with urination Discharge

When to see a doctor

Contact your doctor if you have signs and symptoms of a UTI.

If you would like to speak to our team about urinary symptoms or other treatments, please call us on 0161 327 1269 or email us at info@urologyclinics.co.uk. We also offer treatment for other urological cancers.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Urethral Stricture

March 28, 2022 in Bladder, Kidney

Urethral stricture is a narrowing of the tube that carries urine out the body (the urethra). The stricture (narrowing) is a result of scar tissue and restricts the flow of urine out of the bladder which can lead to a variety of medical problems in the urinary tract such as inflammation and infection.

Symptoms of urethral stricture

Decreased urine stream
Spraying of the urine stream
Incomplete emptying of the bladder
Difficulty or pain when urinating
Urinary tract infection
Increased urge and frequency of urination
Blood in the urine

Causes of urethral stricture

These are more common in men than women and sometimes the cause is unknown. However, the stricture is usually a result of scar tissue narrowing the urethra. This scar tissue can be caused by:

Medical procedure involving the urethra
Kidney stone surgery
Intermittent or long-term use of a catheter
Trauma or injury to the urethra and/or pelvis
Cancer of the urethra or prostate
Sexually transmitted infections
Radiation therapy
Enlarged prostate
Previous prostate surgery

Treatment

There are several options depending on the severity of the stricture. Unfortunately, there are no medications to help with a stricture and without treatment the symptoms will not subside. Furthermore, without treatment further problems could arise such at kidney stones, urinary and/or testicular infections, urinary retention as well as bladder and kidney problems.

Treatments include:

Dilation – This may be suggested for a short stricture. The stricture is stretched using dilators or a balloon catheter. Unfortunately, this isn’t a cure and the procedure needs to be repeated to keep symptoms at bay.
Urethrotomy – This uses the cytoscope (long tube with a camera on it), to locate the stricture, then specialised instruments are used to cut the ring of scar tissue and open up the blocked area.
Open surgery called urethral reconstruction – if the other two options fail or are unsuitable this may be suggested. Either the sections of scar tissue is removed and the urethra is stitched back together, or the urethra is rebuild using skin graft from another area.

If you would like to speak to our team about a urethral stricture or other treatments, please call us on 0161 327 1269 or email us at info@urologyclinics.co.uk. We also offer treatment for other urological cancers.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

A truly remarkable kidney surgery story.

March 1, 2022 in Kidney

How Mr Aziz Gulamhusein from Urology Clinics Manchester helped Jeff get back to the long leisurely walks he loves by performing Robotic-assisted kidney surgery.

After Jeff saw his GP for a routine check-up, and being referred for further tests, Jeff was stunned to discover that he in fact had been living with kidney cancer for several years.

After undergoing successful kidney surgery using robotic treatment under the care of Mr Aziz Gulamhusein, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon at The Christie Private Care, part of HCA Healthcare UK, Jeff has now received the ‘all-clear’.

Jeff shares his remarkable story.

Jeff’s story
When Jeff, a 68-year-old business owner and Sunday Times best-selling author from Cheshire, first walked into his GP surgery for a routine ‘Well Man’ check in July 2021, he had no obvious health issues. During this check-up, a routine blood sample was taken and analysed.

The next day, he received a call from his GP: “I was told by my GP that my PSA levels were ‘through the roof’ – which could be a sign of prostate cancer. He encouraged me not to panic and referred me for further tests to investigate”, Jeff explained.

An unexpected turn of events
More tests and an MRI scan revealed that Jeff did not have prostate cancer – however, in an unexpected turn of events, a growth was spotted on the scan within his left kidney, which indicated a possible kidney cancer. This diagnosis was confirmed by a CT scan the following day, and Jeff was told that kidney surgery would be needed in order to save his life.

Whilst talking through his treatment options, Jeff was referred to Mr Aziz Gulamhusein, a Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon at The Christie Private Care, who specialises in kidney surgery.

Jeff recalls his first meeting with Mr Gulamhusein: “After looking at my scans, Mr Gulamhusein said that instead of simply removing the entire kidney he wanted to try and just remove the tumour whilst preserving the rest of the kidney. He explained that the tumour was in an awkward place so it would be a tricky procedure, but with the help of a new robotic system at the hospital, there was a good chance it would be successful.”

Capabilities of robotic surgery
The da Vinci Xi – the advanced and integrated robotic system that Mr Gulamhusein suggested, is able to operate on patients for kidney surgery with tumours in more difficult to reach areas, whilst giving patients like Jeff reduced recovery times.

Speaking of the planned surgery Jeff said: “When he first uttered the words ‘robot’, admittedly I was a little scared. I didn’t know much about the use of robots in surgery and being the first patient being operated on using the new system was also daunting, but after Mr Aziz Gulamhusein talked me through the process in more detail and explained that he had undergone significant training, this gave me so much confidence. All of the benefits that came with robotic surgery – like quicker recovery times and greater precision – felt like a ‘no brainer’, and so my wife and I decided there and then to push forward with the procedure.”

On the advancing capabilities of robotic surgery, Mr Gulamhusein added: “Over the last ten years we have seen real advancements in the capability of robotic surgery and for many cancers, where clinically appropriate, this is now considered the gold standard of treatment. Jeff had a complex tumour located centrally around the blood supply to his left kidney which I was able to remove with the help of the enhanced technology, whilst preserving the remaining normal healthy kidney tissue.”

Receiving the all clear
Soon after his operation, Jeff received the news that his tumour had been fully removed and that he won’t require any additional treatment. He added: “My hobby is my work. When I go to work, I go to play – so when I received my cancer diagnosis and was told I had to isolate and ‘take it easy’, I was devastated. But because of the exceptional support I received from my local GP and The Christie Private Care team, I was able to head back to ‘work’ within weeks.”

“I can’t speak more highly of Mr Aziz Gulamhusein and the team. They went above and beyond the call of duty to care for me and made sure that I felt supported and reassured the whole way through my treatment. I only needed to stay in hospital for two nights after the surgery, and I healed incredibly fast – within a few weeks I was off pain killers and back to long leisurely walks with my wife and dogs. Best of all, I get to return to work and continue doing what I love.”

I’m feeling very blessed and would encourage anyone who is in a similar position to me to consider robotic-assisted surgery if it’s offered to them – it’s truly remarkable.”

Click here to find out more about our Kidney Clinic, To make an appointment please call us or send us an enquiry.

Kidney Cancer Surgery

January 31, 2022 in Kidney

Kidney cancer surgery is the most common form of treatment for this diagnosis. Around 1 in 34 men and 1 in 61 women are diagnosed with kidney cancer in their lifetime in the UK. Out of all these cases, around 34% are preventable.

Depending on the type and stage of cancer, kidney cancer surgery may differ. it may be recommended that you have a partial nephrectomy; this is when the cancer is removed as well as some of the surrounding kidney tissue, or a radical nephrectomy; this is when the entire kidney is removed along with the tumour. A lot of the time kidney cancer surgery will be done as well as another form of treatment. This often include radiotherapy or chemotherapy. This is done to ensure that you get the best possible outcome from the treatment.

If you are diagnosed with kidney cancer at it is decided that you need to has kidney cancer surgery, it is important that you ask any questions you may have. You care team are there to make sure that you understand every stage of the treatment; remember no question is too big or too small. It is also important that you have a good support system round you, this can be friends and family or support groups, for example MacMillan or cancer support groups that you may find.

Click here to visit the MacMillan Support Page

If you would like to speak to our team about kidney cancer surgery or other treatments, please call us on 0161 327 1269 or email us at info@urologyclinics.co.uk. We also offer treatment for other urological cancers.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

7 smoking related urological conditions

December 20, 2021 in Bladder, Fertility, Kidney, Penile, Testes

Everyone that does or does not smoke will know that it can have a major impact on your health. Each year millions of people die prematurely due to smoking related illnesses. In this blog we will highlight smoking relating urological conditions.

Bladder cancer – every year around 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer. Smoking causes harmful chemicals to collect in your urine. These chemicals can have a big effect on the lining of the bladder and increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.
Erectile disfunction – around 1 in 5 men experience erectile dysfunction in the UK. Smoking can harm blood vessels, therefore affecting the flow of blood to the penis. Erectile dysfunction can have a serious effect on sexual intercourse and a man’s self esteem.
Kidney cancer – kidney cancer is the 9^th most common cancer in the UK for both men and women. The harmful toxins in a cigarette enter the blood stream which is then filtered through by the kidneys. These toxins and chemicals can increase your risk of getting kidney cancer.
Kidney stones – research has shown that the risk of getting kidney stones is increased if you smoke.
Painful bladder syndrome – this condition is more common in women than men. As smoking irritates the lining of the bladder, it can worsen the symptoms of painful bladder syndrome.
Incontinence – urinary incontinence is an extremely common condition, especially for those that smoke. Coughing fits caused by smoking can worsen the frequency of incontinence and lead to stress incontinence.
Infertility – this affects both men and women. Smoking can chance the genetic makeup of in both eggs and sperm. Did you know that the infertility rate in smokers is twice the rate of those who do not smoke?

If you need help with quitting smoking then you should speak to your GP about getting the right help. Sometimes a simple change can improve your health significantly!

Kidney infections

October 12, 2021 in Kidney

Kidney infections, which is also known as pyelonephritis, is when the kidneys become inflamed due to a bacterial infection. This can be a very painful and uncomfortable condition that can often be associated with a bladder infection.

Kidney infections can affect people of all ages, however, are more commonly found in women. This is likely due to the fact that women have a much shorter urethra therefore bacteria can reach the kidney more easily. Women who are sexually active can also have an increased risk of developing a kidney infection.

As mentioned before, a kidney infection can be brought on by a bladder infection. If you have a bladder infection this does not mean that it will automatically develop into a kidney infection.

A kidney infection is usually treated with a course of antibiotics; if this is done at an early stage it is likely that no permanent damage will be done and it will clear up within a few days. If left untreated, it can develop and if allowed to progress it can possibly cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

Here are some of the symptoms to look out for:

Fever/shiver
Having pain in your back or sides
Smelly or cloudy urine
Blood in your urine
Pain or burning when urinating
Need to urinate suddenly or more often

Kidney infections are relatively simple to diagnose: you will need to provide a urine sample and an explanation of the symptoms that you have. In most cases you will be given a course of antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria; most people will be back to normal within around 2 weeks. If you are still experiencing problems go back to see your GP or urologist.

Here are some tips that you can follow to reduce your risk of developing urine or kidney infections:

Drink lots of water
Don’t hold in your urine
Wash your genitals daily
Use protection during sexual intercourse

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Robotic surgery at it’s best

September 24, 2021 in Kidney

Mr Gulamhusein and Mr Oates were very excited today to perform the first cases on the brand new Da Vinci XI robot at HCA The Christie Private Care.

The Da Vinci XI robot is the first fully private robot in the North of England, offering patients access to cutting edge robotic surgery and the reassurance of being cared for at one of the worlds leading cancer centres.

Mr Oates said “It was an exciting opportunity to use the new robot system and it’s advanced features will enable us to offer improved care of our patients.” Mr Gulamhusein added “The XI system allows us to offer Robotic surgery to a wider range of patients than before, improving their treatments and experience”.

Mr Gulamhusein and Mr Oates from Urology Clinics Manchester standing with the impressive The Da Vinci XI robot.

Loved by surgeons and patients alike for its ease of use and faster recovery times, the Da Vinci XI robot is less invasive than conventional procedures, The robotic system was originally developed by the Department of Defense for use as a robotic surgeon for the battlefield and is approved by the FDA. The system replicates the surgeon’s hand movement’s real-time in laparoscopic instruments. It cannot be programmed, nor does it make any independent decisions, but rather it does only what the surgeon inputs in real-time.

When we talk about faster recovery times, both patients that underwent the robotic surgery this week went home successfully two days after their procedure, allowing them to get back to resuming normal life as quickly as possible.

This 3D image shows the type of partial nephrectomies Urology Clinics Manchester can undertake helped by the Da Vinci XI robot.

Urology Clinics Manchester are able to offer comprehensive Urological cancer care to both insured and self-funding patients. If you are concerned about a possible cancer diagnosis, or have been diagnosed with cancer and want to talk about your options for further care, we’re more than happy to discuss your care needs.

If you have questions or wish to make an appointment please do contact us or visit our cancer clinic or kidney clinic.

Kidney Infection

July 19, 2021 in Kidney

A kidney infection is inflammation of the kidneys caused by bacteria; this is also referred to as pyelonephritis. This is a painful and uncomfortable condition that can be caused by an infection in the bladder (cystitis).

A kidney infection can affect people of at any ages and is more common in women. This is thought to be linked to the fact that a woman’s urethra is shorter, therefore making it easier for bacteria to reach the kidneys. Women that have regular sexual activity can also be at a higher risk. UTIs in men become more common when you get older. One reason is that older men are more likely to develop noncancerous enlargement of their prostate gland, (BPH). The prostate wraps around the neck of the bladder, where the urethra connects to the bladder. Enlargement of the prostate gland can choke off the bladder neck, making it harder for urine to flow freely. If the bladder doesn’t empty completely, bacteria that are normally flushed out with the urine might gain a foothold. From there the bacteria can travel to the kidney and cause a kidney infection.

It is important to note that most people that get cystitis will not get a kidney infection, however in some cases the bacteria can travel up to one or both of the kidneys.

If a kidney infection is treated straight away with a course of antibiotics, then it is unlikely to cause any serious harm, and will likely be gone in a few days. However, if it is left it can get worse and possibly cause damage to the kidneys.

Symptoms of a kidney infection will usually occur within a few hours. The severity and type of symptoms that you experience can differ between everyone. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Fever/shiver
Having pain in your back or sides
Smelly or cloudy urine
Blood in your urine
Pain or burning when urinating
Need to urine suddenly or more often

A kidney infection can be easily diagnosed with a urine test and an explanation of the symptoms that you are experiencing. Your GP will mostly likely give you a course of antibiotics straight away to get rid of the infection and ensure that no permanent damage is done; you should be back to normal within 2 weeks. If you are still experiencing symptoms after the course of antibiotics has finished you should go back to your GP.

There are lots of things that you can do on a daily basis to help reduce your risk of developing a kidney infection. This includes:

Drinking lots of water
Not holding in urine
Going to the toilet before and after sex
Wiping from front to back when you go to the toilet
Washing your genitals daily
Wearing protection during sex
Staying mobile
Taking extra care about urinary tract surgery
Getting circumcised
Avoiding anal intercourse, which exposes the urethra to more bacteria

For more information on kidney infections please visit our kidney clinic page or give us a call on 0161 327 1269

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Mens Health

June 16, 2021 in Bladder, Fertility, Kidney, Penile, Prostate, Testes

This week is men’s health week (14th-20th June 2021). While the focus is on men’s mental health, we also think it is important that we talk about men’s physical health. Since lockdown last year the way we see our GPs has changed. We hope to answer some of your men’s health questions that you may not have answers to. Simple, yet very important!

Fatigue, weight gain, hair loss and changes to sexual behaviours may be caused by a low level of testosterone. This can be easily diagnosed with a blood test!
An enlarged prostate, medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, is not a warning sign of cancer. It can however cause uncomfortable symptoms such as pain when urinating or urinary incontinence.
Prostate cancer is the second most deadly cancer for men in the UK. When caught early it can be very treatable. Always attend your prostate examinations!
Erectile dysfunction should not be considered normal and is not something that comes with age. If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction it is important that you speak to a medical professional about possible causes and treatment.
Men between the ages of 20-40 are most likely to have a tumour that is caused by testicular cancer. It is important that you carry out self-examinations and go and get any changes checked out.
A prostate specific antigen (PSA) test can pick up inflammation and even cancer of the prostate by looking at the levels of protein in the blood. It is important that you have this test annually.

If you have noticed any urological changes and would like to speak to a specialist at Urology Clinics Manchester please call us on 01613271269 or email us on info@urologyclinics.co.uk

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.