Urology

Our Approach to Urology

You might need to see a urologist if you have any problems with your urinary system, which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and prostate.

Urologists also treat problems associated with the male and female genitourinary system such as incontinence or impotence. Often, a urologist will be your first stop in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as prostate or testicular cancers, or kidney cancer and stones.

When it comes to your urology care, we take a team approach to ensure the correct diagnosis and treatment options are tailored to your specific condition.

Urologists often will also work hand-in-hand with other specialists such as nephrologists (kidney doctors) or medical oncologists (cancer doctors) depending on the level of care you need.

We treat all types of conditions affecting the urinary tract, including:

Cancers of the urinary tract:

• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer

We also treat:

• Enlarged prostate
• Kidney stones
• Sexual dysfunction
• Male and female incontinence

Why IU Health for Urology

The Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Urology was the first department in the United States dedicated exclusively to urology. Dr. William N. Wishard founded the department in 1887. The unique partnership IU Health shares with the IU School of Medicine has enabled us to deliver exceptional outcomes and pioneer new treatments in many areas of urology.

Leading Edge Urology Care

Our urologists are on the leading edge of innovation and care. We've pioneered several treatments and procedures including:

• Nerve sparing Retro Peritoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RPLND) for the treatment of testis cancer, which dramatically improved survivorship of this disease
• The Indiana Pouch continent urinary reservoir – a breakthrough procedure for the reconstruction of the bladder from the colon
• High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of prostate cancer; This is an outpatient treatment for prostate cancer with minimal side effects
• The use of percutaneous and ureteroscopic techniques for kidney stone removal

We're also home to several "firsts":

• We are the first in the nation to use extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for the treatment of kidney stones
• We are one of the first institutions to use the Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) to treat enlarged prostate
  
• We are the first in Indiana to perform a laparoscopic nephrectomy (kidney removal)
• We were the first in Indiana to use the daVinci robot for prostate cancer removal

What do these accomplishments mean for you? You can have confidence that your care is among the best in the nation. You will have access to leading edge, evidence-based treatments.

And our highly skilled physicians and healthcare professionals go beyond treating you just as a medical condition. We work with you to design the expert care you need.