Features
Delivering a laparoscopic urology workshop in West Africa: our initial experience in Senegal
Despite universal adoption and significant technological innovation since its inception around 30 years ago, access to laparoscopic surgery remains lacking in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Whilst some progress has been made in recent years to bridge the gap with the developed...
A greener urology
Healthcare in England is responsible for 4-5% of the country’s carbon footprint which is defined as the amount of greenhouse gasses, primarily carbon dioxide, released into the atmosphere by a particular activity. The six greenhouse gasses which vary in their...
The transition from surgeon to manager during the COVID-19 response
Writing this article on the first Sunday in May, when in any other year, I would be wearing my bowler hat in Hyde Park for the annual Cavalry Memorial Parade, a time ‘pre-COVID’ does seem a very distant memory. Having...
The surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence in a post-mesh era
Trends in surgical management of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have changed in recent times, mainly due to the ‘High Vigilance Pause’ placed on the use of mesh for SUI (and prolapse) surgery in July 2018 following an independent...
OCERT: a new multi-specialty project to standardise robotic surgical training
Since its introduction by Dr William Osler in 1890 to the Board of Trustees at John Hopkins Hospital [1], the Halstedian ‘See one, do one, teach one’ has represented a guideline for surgeons worldwide, both for open and laparoscopic surgery,...
The Re-humanising Revolution: Breaking the conspiracy of silence
Over the last few years, the mental and emotional wellbeing of those who work in medicine has come under scrutiny. The author introduces a new resource. Working in healthcare has always been stressful but never more so than today. In...
Perspectives on the 9th Worldwide Robotic Surgery Event
I was honoured to be invited again to participate in this year’s Worldwide Robotic Surgery Event (WRSE). Taking place in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, when medical meetings and congresses have been cancelled, training disrupted and health systems...
A guided guide to the guide wire
The use of guide wires has become a core skill utilised by urologists, especially within the field of endourology. The authors take us through the development of the guide wire and their current use in urology. The history The first...
How an ergonomic design is helping women overcome barriers in ISC
Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is a frustrating problem for millions of people. Never knowing when and where one might have an accident can affect everything: from work to family and social life. It happens to both men...
Post-prostatectomy incontinence
Urinary incontinence following prostate surgery (post-prostatectomy incontinence or PPI) is a significant complication that can have a profoundly negative impact on the quality of life of patients suffering with it. It may become a barrier to physical activity and social...
COVID-19: the impact on urology so far
“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” Florence Nightingale Since 31 December 2019 when a cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause were first referred to the WHO Country Office in China, there has been...
Intravesical GAG replacement therapies for bladder pain syndrome / interstitial cystitis – an update
The barrier function of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer of the urothelium was identified by Parsons in 1975, and intravesical therapies to treat chronic inflammatory conditions of the bladder were developed soon after. However, the active role of the urothelium in...
