Bladder Conditions and Treatment
Our specialists are here to treat a wide range of bladder conditions, from bladder prolapse to neurogenic bladder. We offer advanced treatments, including minimally invasive procedures and complex surgeries, to improve both your health and confidence.
What Is the Bladder?
The bladder is a sac-like organ that expands and contracts when full or empty.
What Does the Bladder Do?
When the bladder is functioning normally, it fills with fluid-waste (urine) and stores it until full. When the brain signals that the bladder is full, it activates the urinary tract system to relieve the pressure.
When the bladder doesn't function as it should, you may experience several uncomfortable, painful or even serious symptoms, such as frequent urination, the urge to pee or pain. No matter what type of bladder disease you may be experiencing, our experts can help.
Bladder Conditions We Treat
We treat:
- Bladder cancer
- Bladder diverticulum
- Bladder infections
- Bladder prolapse
- Bladder stones
- Interstitial cystitis
- Neurogenic bladder
- Overactive bladder
- Urinary incontinence
Diagnosis
To diagnose bladder conditions, our team asks you about your medical history and conducts a thorough physical exam. We also run several diagnostic tests, including:
Cystoscopy |
Imaging Tests |
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) |
|---|---|---|
|
We thread a small scope through the ureter into the bladder to see inside and view possible blockages. The procedure takes about five to 10 minutes. |
MRIs, CTs and ultrasounds provide detailed, 3D images of your bladder. |
We use a combination of X-rays and injectable dye to understand how your urinary tract is working. This procedure allows us to see structures and movement in the kidneys, ureter and bladder. |
Treatment
We offer several sophisticated procedures to help relieve symptoms of bladder diseases. We customize your plan to ensure you are getting the treatment that works best for your lifestyle and health goals.
If we need to perform surgery for bladder cancer, we may be able to spare part of the bladder. We remove the tumor, leaving as much healthy tissue behind as possible.
After surgery, you'll have chemotherapy and radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Bladder-sparing surgery has many benefits, including faster recovery time and better quality of life after surgery.
In some cases, the best treatment option may be removing the entire bladder. For men, we may have to remove part of the prostate and seminal vesicles as well.
We use three techniques to perform cystectomies. We'll discuss the surgical options with you and determine which procedure will lead to the best long-term results for you. Procedures include:
- Laparoscopic surgery: During this minimally invasive procedure, we make several small incisions in the abdomen and insert a thin, flexible tube (laparoscope) with surgical tools attached. We use these tools to remove the bladder and other tissue.
- Robotic surgery: Robotic surgery is also a minimally invasive procedure but uses specialized robotic surgical tools. Robotic surgery offers a more detailed picture of your bladder and helps us operate with greater precision.
- Open surgery: We make a single long incision in the abdomen to access the bladder, urethra, prostate and other tissue we need to remove.
After bladder removal, you will need something to help urine travel from your kidneys and exit your body. Our team builds a new bladder using your own tissue, typically part of your small intestine. This new bladder may require the use of a catheter to help urine leave the body.
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) intravesical therapies for bladder cancer help people recover from cancer and keep cancer from coming back. BCG is an effective tool to target and keep bladder cancer at bay. While BCG is related to the germ that causes tuberculosis, it does not result in serious disease.
Have Questions or Need Help?
To make an appointment or refer a patient, call the Department of Urology team. You can also have us call you back at your convenience.