The Department of Urology Surgery in the Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantonment organised a two-day workshop on ‘Advanced Urologic Surgery’. About 250 delegates including eminent urologists, paediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, gynaecologists and general surgeons from the Armed Forces as well as from civil medical outfits attended the workshop.

Urologists of national and international repute disseminated their skills and performed live advanced urological surgical procedures using state-of-the-art medical equipment available at Army Hospital (Research and Referral). The latest keyhole surgery was done using a laproscope for the removal of kidney from living donor for kidney transplantation. The other laparoscopic operative procedures demonstrated were correction of narrowed urinary passages of the kidney and removal of a tumour of the adrenal gland. The keyhole surgery being minimally invasive is less painful; it requires short hospitalisation and results in quick recovery with early return to work.

Enlarged prostate is a common malady affecting elderly males in our country. The holmium laser surgery of enlarged prostate was demonstrated at the workshop. Laser surgery is quick, bloodless and more comfortable for the patient.

Impotence or failure to achieve an erection and infertility are often prevalent among traumatic males. The management of these disorders requires a sensitive and systematic approach. For the treatment of impotence, implantation of penile prosthesis was demonstrated. Artificial penile implant is akin to breast implant. Microscopic surgery for correction of infertility due to blockage of sperm carrying tubes was also demonstrated.

In some women, due to ageing and child birth, loss of control over urination occurs leading to leakage of urine on slight exertion. This is a fairly common and embarrassing disorder and can be corrected by a simple, quick, effective and minimally invasive operation which was demonstrated at the workshop. Lectures, symposia and panel discussion held on the occasion benefitted practising as well as trainee doctors. The conference led to a healthy exchange of ideas which can be translated into a cost-effective patient care.