The Department of Urology offers a comprehensive consultative diagnostic and therapeutic service covering the whole spectrum of urology. In addition, an active research programme is run in conjunction with the Garvan Institute and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre.
Cancer
of the prostate: The unit has the largest experience in transperineal prostate
biopsies, open and robotic
radical prostatectomy and brachytherapy in Australasia. It was the first unit
in New South Wales to perform
robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and is the most experienced in New South
Wales. Radiation therapy
is delivered by the latest IMRT machine as well as low-dose-rate brachytherapy
but in addition has recently
introduced the MR Linac machine for targeted radiotherapy. Focal therapy with
the NanoKnife has now
been offered to select patients with prostate cancer for eight years and the
unit is a major teaching centre. The
multidisciplinary team has an MDT meeting second weekly to discuss complex
cases.
The
St Vincent's Prostate Cancer Research Centre coordinates research into prostate
cancer and works closely with
the Garvan Institute and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre. It coordinates the
clinical aspects of prostate cancer
research and is chaired by Professor Phillip Stricker. In addition, a Masters
and PhD programme for teaching
is performed there. It provides research into imaging MRI, PSMA PET scanning,
the procurement of a large
tissue bank and data base, focal therapy and theranostic. The centre however
does not provide clinical prostate
cancer services which are provided by our local urology practitioners (see
below).
Cancer
of the bladder: Superficial bladder cancer is managed with a full spectrum of
diagnostic and therapeutic
options. Included in these are intravesical immunotherapy with BC, Blue Light
diagnostic cystoscopy,
intravesical chemotherapy and has a history of original research with
combination of BC and interferon. For
invasive bladder cancer, robotic cystoprostatectomy is offered as well
neobladder reconstruction and the latest
forms of surgical treatment.
Cancer
of the kidney and testes: Cancer of the kidney is managed with robot-assisted
partial nephrectomy as well
as laparoscopic and open treatments as well as ablations.
Testicular
cancer management includes retroperitoneal lymph gland dissection and full
multidisciplinary care through
the Medical Oncology Team.
Benign
prostatic hyperplasia: The unit offers the full spectrum of surgical and
medical options in the treatment
of benign hyperplasia including transurethral resection of the prostate,
Holmium: YAG laser enucleation,
GreenLight laser, UroLift procedure, bipolar and unipolar TUR, Rezum procedure
and prostatic arterial
embolisation. In addition, it offers a full workup of urodynamic assessment and
all the medical therapies.
Incontinence:
A full assessment and treatment with outpatient urodynamic assessment, pelvic
floor exercises and
bladder training for male and female patients is offered. Surgical treatment
includes intravesical Botox injection,
sling procedures, ProACT devices and insertion of artificial sphincters.
Stone
unit: A comprehensive stone unit with rigid and flexible ureteroscopy and laser
as well as extracorporeal
shockwave lithotripsy under anaesthesia with the latest technology are all
offered.
Andrology: The unit also has expertise in both the treatment of impotence, sexual
rehabilitation and penile prosthetic
surgery. In association with the Endocrinology Department it also manages
hypogonadism. Finally, the
treatment of infertility using vasovasostomy and vasoepididymostomy is also
offered.
Our Specialists