Bladder Treatments & Surgery

If you suffer from a bladder condition that is negatively impacting your quality of life, take action with the urologic specialists of Academic Urology & Urogynecology of Arizona (AUUA). With over three decades of experience in advanced urologic care for men and women, we are the practice of choice for men living in and around the Arizona regions of Peoria, Buckeye, Anthem, Sun City, Glendale, Goodyear, and Litchfield Park. From minimally invasive incontinence surgery to laparoscopic and radical cystectomy, choose Academic Urology & Urogynecology of Arizona and choose excellence.

Naturopathic Medicine

Certain men may be able to minimize the severity of their urological problems through naturopathic means. The Urologists of AUUA may recommend one or a combination of the following behavioral, physical, and naturopathic therapies as part of a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of a number of male urology issues, including stress and urge incontinence.

• Kegel Exercises: In instances of male stress incontinence and urinary urgency, Kegel exercise may prove a successful naturopathic treatment. By contracting and strengthening the urinary sphincter, stress incontinence, a common side effect of prostate surgery, may be lessened. Additionally, the contraction of the urethral sphincter at the onset of an urge to urinate, may afford men enough time to reach the bathroom as this action is known to relax the bladder and reduce the severity of bladder contractions.
• Biofeedback: To help men identify the muscles responsible for the restoration of continence, the Doctors of Academic Urology & Urogynecology of Arizona may recommend biofeedback. In this non-invasive therapy, electrodes sense the quality and intensity of muscle contractions and relay this information to the patient via a computer screen. The aim of biofeedback therapy is to reward and validate the correct use of pelvic muscles for the treatment of urinary incontinence.
• Transcutaneous Neurostimulation: Applied for the treatment of stress and urge incontinence, transcutaneous neurostimulation involves a non-invasive stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles through the transmission of low-voltage electrical impulses. In cases of stress incontinence, a regimen of electrical impulses cause the pelvic muscles to contract and strengthen. For males with urge incontinence, electrical stimulation may help the bladder relax and lessen involuntary contractions.

Pharmacologic Treatments

For men with urology problems like urinary tract infections, Interstitial Cystitis, or stress or urge incontinence, the Arizona urologic specialists of our state-of-the-art treatment centers may prescribe one or a combination of medications to relieve or eliminate undesirable symptoms.

Surgical Treatments

Surgery may be recommended for men with complex urology issues that cannot be addressed with medication or naturopathic treatments. Doctors Jeffrey A. Stern and Aaron LaTowsky specialize in advanced urologic surgery for men and women. Read on to learn what surgical options are available to you as a patient of AUUA:

• Artificial Urinary Sphincter: A surgically implanted device, an artificial urinary sphincter is fitted around the urethra and can be inflated and deflated to control the flow of urination.
• Botox Injection: Men with urge incontinence who have not experienced positive results from pharmacologic treatment may consider Botox bladder injections. During this out-patient procedure, Botox is injected into the bladder wall to stop involuntary contractions of the bladder.
• Bulking Agents (Collagen): To thicken the urethral wall or close a hole, a bulking agent such as collagen may help certain men regain continence.
• Cystectomy and Partial Cystectomy: The removal of a cancerous bladder is a procedure known as a cystectomy. Depending upon the severity of the cancerous growth, a portion of or the entire bladder will be removed along with the surrounding lymph nodes and affected tissue. The Doctors of Academic Urology & Urogynecology of Arizona specialize in laparoscopic and robotic radical and partial cystectomy—a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open surgeries. In these procedures, the bladder is excised through a series of small incisions and the insertion of a scope and robotic-controlled or laparoscopic surgical instrumentation. Benefits include a shortened hospital stay, less blood loss, and a reduced period of recovery.
• Hydrodistention: Used as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for patients afflicted with Interstitial Cystitis—a chronic inflammation of the bladder wall—Hydrodistention may be considered. In this procedure, the bladder is filled to capacity with water and then drained via a cytoscope.
• Minimally Invasive Slings: Appropriate for urinary stress incontinence that is the result of prostate surgery or damage to the sphincter, minimally invasive male slings involve the placement of synthetic mesh material beneath the urethra. The sling supports the urethra through compression and elevation to improve urinary control. Urethral sling procedures performed at AUUA, include the InVance® and AdVance® systems. Both procedures are minimally invasive and are performed through perineal incision(s).
• Sacral Neuromodulation (Interstim): A treatment for urinary urge incontinence, urinary frequency, and urinary retention, sacral neuromodulation involves the implantation of a programmable device that delivers a low amplitude pulse of stimulation to the sacral nerve. Male candidates include those who have had little success with medication or require catheterization in order to empty their bladder.