Welcome To Laparoscopic Urology
Dr Charles Charbert
Director of Laparoscopic Urology Australia
Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery is the art of performing surgical operations through several small incisions rather than using a traditional large single incision. Telescopic cameras are then passed through “ports” or small tubes in the abdominal wall to facilitate improved visualization and to allow precise surgery.
An urologist is a specialist medical practitioner who manages conditions affecting the kidneys, bladder, the connecting piping between the two, prostate and the male external genitalia. The most common conditions managed by an urologist include:
Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) can be used to perform several different urological operations. These include:
- Radical prostatectomy: Surgery to completely remove the prostate and seminal vesicles because of prostate cancer
- Nephrectomy: removal of the kidney. This can be required, most commonly, as a result of loss of function or as a result of an abnormal growth
- Pyeloplasty: This allows improved drainage of urine from a kidney that has a blockage
- Ureterolithotomy: Removal of a large stone from the uterer (pipe connecting the kidney to the bladder)
Dr Charles Charbert
This form of surgery has been tried and tested. It is performed by specially trained surgeons to offer patients excellent results with the avoidance of problems that can be associated with large incisions. The net result is less time spent in hospital convalescing, reduced post operative pain and fewer wound complications.
The surgical literature tells us that the best results can be obtained by surgeons who have gained subspecialty training in laparoscopy and by those who work in large volume centres. Dr Chabert has recently completed specialised training in urological laparoscopy with one of Europe’s pioneering laparoscopic surgeons.