The Special Features of Urology

       Currently there are four staff urologists in our department: three full-time, one part-time, all TUA1 (Taiwan Urologic Association) board-certified, providing the most complete services for all urologic conditions arising from the Hsinchu and Miaoli region. All urologists staffed in our department are trained from medical centers in Taiwan with full credentials/certifications and each with more than ten years of clinical practice in urology. 

We specialize in all disciplines of urology including general urology (blood in urine, hematuria), urolithiasis (urinary stones), benign prostatic hyperplasia, tumors of the genitourinary system (cancer of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate and testes), sexual dysfunction, male infertility (vasectomy and reanastomosis), and sexually transmitted diseases.

Specifically our department leads the region for treatment of urolithiasis utilizing all modalities of therapeutic approaches including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopic stone manipulation (URS-SM) and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) in keeping with the latest global trend of minimally invasive surgery. Our ESWL utilizes the 3rd-generation machine by StorzR Medical AG2 (Tuttlingen, Germany), featuring minimal pain, high stone-free rate, and low complication rate. Currently we are in the process of renovating to the most updated state-of-art shock wave lithotripter expected to be installed before end of FY2006. 

For treatment of ureteral stone, minimally invasive procedure of ureteroscopic stone manipulation (URS-SM) is performed on daily basis with semi-rigid ureteroscope from Richard Wolf R GmbH3 (Hamburg, Germany). A recent addition to our armamentarium is the flexible ureteroscope by ACMIR Corp.4, (Southborough, MA, USA) allowing examination and treatment of the lesions in renal pelvis and calyces. In terms of large and staghorn stone we are the leading institution in the region performing PCNL on a need basis when conditions required. 

Another feature of our fully-staffed team is treatment of voiding difficulty from hypertrophic prostate. Both medical and endoscopic-surgical approaches (transurethral resection of prostate, TURP) are taken with long established reputation build on our solid clinical results. For TURP we are equipped with Nd-Yag laser as well as traditional electrocauterizer for optimal outcome. We plan to perform bipolar saline TURP with PK superPulse from Gyrus MedicalR (Osseo, MN, USA) 5 soon to further minimize surgical risk. 

For diagnosis of prostate cancer, our department features transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy utilizing ultrasonography system from B-K MedicalR (Herlev, Denmark)6. In collaboration with the Department of Radiation Oncology, prostate cancer is treated with the cutting edge modality of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) only offered from our institution in the region. 

We welcome further inquiry or consultation from both patients/families and colleagues and are sincerely looking forward to better serving you in any way possible. Please feel free to contact us at 03-5326151 extension 5005 or email to urology@hch.gov.tw.

Links & References:

1. http://www.tua.org.tw/
2. http://www.storzmedical.com/English/Home.html
3. http://www.richard-wolf.com/default.aspx
4. http://www.acmicorp.com/acmi/user/display.cfm
5. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/488123?rss
6. http://www.bkmed.com/mainpage/main.asp