What do we do?
Urologists, above all, are surgeons of the urinary tract. They therefore concentrate on congenital deformities, stones, tumours and traumata of the urinary excretory system: the kidneys, bladder, prostate and urethra. They also provide treatment for infections of the urinary tracts and for disorders of the male reproductive organs. Some urologists, Andrologists, focus specifically on male fertility problems.
The head of the department is prof. dr. Frans Keuppens, who also holds the Faculty’s Urology Chair. The permanent members of staff are dr. Johan Braeckman, dr. Veerle De Boe and dr. Dirk Michielsen. Our team also counts one or two doctors-specialists in training.
The team members regularly participate in high-level international clinical studies (Oncology, Functional Bladder Disorders, Erectile Dysfunction). This activity has taken on such amplitude in recent years, that one of the nurses has had to be detached as a permanent ‘study nurse’.
Primary patient consultations usually take place within the general Urology Consultation (Zone C/Yellow Zone Level 0), offering 14 weekly consultation options, usually taken by 2 Urologists. This system helps keep waiting lists for consultations to a minimum. A personalised evening consultation on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 p.m. has been in place since 2004.
Consultations are by telephone appointment only: +32 (0)2 477 60 12.
Some of the basic urologic exams will be conducted during consultations:
• internal bladder exam, the Cystoscopy,
• Echography of the Prostate,
• Biopsy of the Prostate, under Echographic Conduction,
• Urine Flow Rate Measurement for children and adults,
• Bladder or Sphincter Pressure Measurement, the Urodynamic test.
There also exist more specialised consultations, which may be necessary when they require more time, are multidisciplinary or must be held in isolation:
• Paediatric Urology with dr. V. De Boe or prof. dr. F. Keuppens in the Children’s Hospital,
• Urine Incontinence and Urodynamic tests
- for women with Gynaecologist prof. dr. H. Cammu,
- for men with dr. D. Michielsen,
• Erectile problems with dr. D. Michielsen,
• Diagnostic and Interventional Echography of the Prostate,
• Specific nursing activities,
• Uro-Oncology consultations in conjunction with the Oncology Centre’s Radiotherapists.
The Kidney Stone Crusher is one of the Department’s jewels in the crown. This is actually a ward which is fully equipped to treat stones in the kidneys, the urethra and the bladder. The Kidney Stone Crusher is located within the Medical Imaging Department, since most current procedures are accompanied by X-Rays to locate the stones. Each year, hundreds of patients suffering from kidney stones are helped with the Kidney Stone Crusher.
The treatments take place by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Semi-invasive procedures take place under anaesthesia on Fridays. Bladder stones are treated both here and in the Operation Ward.
Urology is a subspecialism of surgery. It should not be surprising, therefore, that over 1,000 patients receive treatment annually in the Department’s Operation Ward. The procedures take place on set days. Adult operations are performed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, children’s on Wednesday. Of course, this schedule will be waived in case of emergencies.
The inpatients will be welcomed and treated within Unit 51 (Zone A/White Zone 5th Floor).
The Department’s physicians are present on site every day. During morning rounds, most decisions concerning tests and treatments will be made, while patients, who have sufficiently recovered, will be released from hospital. Test results are reviewed in the afternoon. Conversations with families will usually also take place during afternoons.
Most patients will be admitted for a surgical procedure. We offer the facility for patients to undergo most pre-operative examinations in advance as an outpatient or through their GP, so as to minimise the length of admission as much as possible.