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

Specialist Tel Fax
A/Prof James Thompson
Dr Benjamin Namdarian
Dr Carlo Yuen
Dr David Ende
Dr Gordon O'Neill
Dr James Symons
Dr Raji Kooner
Dr Richard Savdie
Prof Phillip Stricker AO