Medical Services and Centers

Minimally Invasive Surgery

The Department of Urology is active in minimally invasive therapy of both benign and malignant disease. Robert B. Nadler, M.D. heads the Section of Endourology, Laparoscopy, and Stone Disease and Dr. Christopher Gonzalez is also a member of the laparoscopic urology team at Northwestern. Research is being pursued on treating tumors not only laparoscopically but also in an even less invasive manner - via radio frequency ablation and cryosurgery delivered percutaneously into small tumors. Ongoing research studies are also underway to evaluate the role, cost, and efficacy of various laparoscopy techniques.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic Procedures/Laparoscopic Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection
This involves the sampling of pelvic lymph nodes laparoscopically through 3-4 small 0.25-0.5 inch incisions for the diagnosis and staging of prostate and bladder cancer.

Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
Drs. Robert Nadler and Steven Campbell at Northwestern performed the first laparoscopic prostatectomy in the state of Illinois in the fall of 2000. This minimally invasive technique allows for faster recovery, less blood loss, and better continence and potency in men with prostate cancer.

Laparoscopic Seminal Vesicle Excision
This technique is used in selected patients with prostatitis (chronic pelvic pain syndrome) to relieve symptoms related to seminal vesicle obstruction and pathology.

Laparoscopic Renal Surgery (Laparoscopic Nephrectomy)
This technique, typically performed in an extra abdominal (retroperitoneal) fashion, allows for the removal of kidneys involved with large tumors utilizing three 1-inch incisions. At the end of the case one incision may be enlarged to the size of 2.5 inches to remove the diseased kidney. Hand-assisted and transperitoneal approaches are also utilized and an ongoing research study to evaluate the efficacy of all three of these techniques is underway at Northwestern under the direction of Drs. Nadler and Gonzalez.

Laparoscopic Renal Cryosurgery
Kidneys have traditionally been managed with a surgical excision with removal of all or only the tumor-bearing part of the kidney. Cancers in various organs in the body can also be eradicated by freezing to very low temperatures (cryosurgery) and experimental studies have demonstrated that cryosurgery can be safely applied to the kidneys. Cryosurgery of the kidney offers potential advantages to the usual surgical approach as it can be performed laparoscopically and should result in a more rapid recovery and return to usual activities. Studies to evaluate this exciting new minimally invasive technique are ongoing under the direction of Dr. Nadler.

Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy
This kidney-sparing technique utilizes the argon beam coagulator, harmonic scalpel, and laser to completely resect small tumors in the kidney.

Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy
This technique is used to remove the kidney and ureter for transitional cell cancer, providing a more rapid recovery and equally effective treatment for this traditionally open operation. Dr. Gonzalez has developed a new technique utilizing the hand-assisted approach for laparoscopic removal of the kidney and ureter.

Laparoscopic Female Surgery

Laparoscopic Colposuspension
This laparoscopic technique is used to reposition the vagina in women with pelvic floor weakness and prolapse.

Laparoscopic Bladder Neck Suspension
This technique is used to elevate the bladder neck in women with stress urinary incontinence and bladder neck hypermobility.

Laparoscopic Reconstructive Surgery

Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty
This minimally invasive laparoscopic technique is used to correct obstruction or scarring at the ureteral pelvic junction with excellent results and rapid recovery. It is an excellent alternative to the traditional open approach and more effective from an endourological approach.