Features
History of prostate biopsy – part 1
Part 2 of this topic is available here. Prostate biopsy (PBx) to exclude cancer has been part of clinical practice since the beginning of the 20th Century. PBx techniques have evolved over time to optimally address some of the unique...
Simulation-based training of procedural skills: application and integration of educational theories
Educational theories: how familiar are we with these theories and their application in our training? As a Simulation Fellow I have been involved in teaching specific procedural skills and running full immersion simulation sessions. This experience has exposed me to...
Challenges of catheter associated urinary tract infection: is prevention better than cure?
Catheterisation is a common medical procedure in which a catheter (a hollow flexible tube) is inserted into the bladder in order to facilitate the drainage of urine. Catheters are usually passed into the bladder via the urethra, either to be...
Recent advances in the management of castration resistant prostate cancer
Castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is defined by disease progression despite androgen-deprivation therapy lowering testosterone to castrate levels. It may present as a rise in serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), progression of pre-existing disease, or the appearance of...
Prolapse surgery with mesh: where do we stand in 2017? An ICS update
Background Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is common among women. The lifetime risk of undergoing at least one surgical procedure for POP is up to 20% [1]. This kind of surgery will be increasingly important due to an ageing...
Peyronie’s disease: a review and update
Peyronie’s disease (PD) describes an acquired disease of the penis, which is characterised by a number of signs and symptoms. These include penile pain, curvature, palpable plaques, wasting or narrowing of the penile shaft, a hinge deformity and potentially catastrophic...
Thermal ablative techniques for small renal masses
The incidence of renal cell carcinoma has increased over the past decade which can be partly attributed to the increased use of imaging modalities [1,2]. Nephron sparing procedures for the management of small renal tumours have gained popularity which include...
Metabolic screening and stone-prevention in urolithiasis patients
The incidence and prevalence of kidney stones is increasing [1,2]. Significant recurrence rates are noted with 14% of patients experiencing a further episode at one year, 35% at five years, and 52% at 10 years [3]. Over 10% of stone...
Overview of partial nephrectomy techniques: influence of technology
Traditionally, radical nephrectomy was the preferred operation for kidney cancer, while partial nephrectomy was reserved for specific circumstances and essential indications such as a tumour in a solitary kidney, bilateral kidney tumours, or severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). Given the...
The scent of Ethiopia: a personal story part 2
In May/June 2016 we featured a wonderful account of Zeeshan Aslam’s first trip with Urolink to the Hawassa Referral Hospital in Ethiopia (see here). One year on we are delighted that Zeeshan has once again taken the time to provide...
Testing radical prostatectomy in men with prostate cancer and oligometastases to the bone: a randomised controlled feasibility study
Prostate cancer is the commonest cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer death in Western men [1]. The recent STAMPEDE data suggests a median survival of just 42.1 months in the control arm of metastatic men [2]. Current...
Intravesical glycosaminoglycan analogue instillations for recurrent cystitis
Introduction The symptoms of recurrent cystitis can be triggered by inflammatory or infective causes. Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and bacterial recurrent lower urinary tract infection can both present with symptoms of recurrent cystitis and cause significant morbidity in affected individuals....
