Urology

The SGH Urology Centre provides a whole range of comprehensive and efficient services for the management of urological problems.

With our complete range of state-of-the-art facilities, the Centre performs minimally invasive procedures such as extracoporeal shockwave lithotripsy for treatment of urinary stones, transrectal ultrasound and biopsy of the prostate and urodynamics study of the urinary tract.

The Urology Centre is staffed by Urologists with a broad range of experience in the fields of shockwave lithotripsy, endourology, laser surgery, uro-oncology, female urology, andrology, reconstructive urology and renal transplantation.

Specialty clinics are organized into:

Female urology and incontinence
Prostate disease
Urinary stone disease
Uro-oncology
Male infertility and andrology
Renal transplantation
Reconstructive urology

Clinical Services

The centre adopts a team management approach whereby any individual patient will be managed by more than one urologist. This ensures that our patients get the most comprehensive and appropriate care available.

Uro-oncology

In addition to prostate cancer, the centre also provides screening, staging and treatment for other urologic malignancies such as renal, ureteric, bladder, testicular and penile malignancies.

The Department of Urology in SGH offers an expansive range of services in both the diagnostic and therapeutic domains of oncological care, as well as across the entire disease spectrum from early to advanced cancers.

Robotic transperineal MRI-ultrasound fusion targeted prostate biopsy

The Department of Urology has been instrumental in developing the field of transperineal targeted prostate biopsy, the current gold standard of prostate biopsy, being the co-inventor of the internationally-acclaimed robotic prostate biopsy platform - iSR’obot Mona Lisa thanks to Prof Christopher Cheng, Assoc Prof John Yuen and Assoc Prof Henry Ho. This platform allows biopsy of the prostate through just 2 precise skin punctures, additionally, using advanced software assistance to harness information from both real-time ultrasound of the prostate as well as a pre-biopsy prostate MRI to achieve a more accurate and safer biopsy. The close partnership and vast experience of our dedicated radiologists and biopsy team over the years has contributed to a seamless clinical diagnostic pathway ensuring diagnostic accuracy at an international standard.

Focal therapy for prostate cancer

Focal therapy is an emerging treatment approach where only part of the prostate gland that harbours aggressive cancer is treated, sparing the remaining healthy prostate gland and surrounding vital structures. This treatment allows patients to avoid the side effects of radical prostatectomy and radiation. We are one of the few genitourinary cancer centres in Asia offering focal therapy for prostate cancer.

Metastatic Prostate Cancer Clinic

The treatment landscape of patients with late stage prostate cancer has evolved tremendously in recent years fuelled by improved understanding of the disease and the development of several novel life-prolonging therapies. Therefore, patients are now living longer and consequently, are also faced with a different set of problems related to polypharmacy, detrimental effects of hormone suppression, as well as psychosocial burden. The metastatic prostate cancer clinic works closely not just with the stalwarts of cancer care at this stage – medical and radiation oncologists – to rationalise treatment, but also involves allied health professionals like pharmacists, nurses and physiotherapists in the ecosystem to provide a more holistic care for such patients to ensure not just longer years but also quality years.

Robotic/Minimally invasive surgery for Kidney, Bladder and Prostate Cancers

The Department of Urology is a pioneer in robotic surgeries being one of the first in Asia to perform robotic surgery for prostate cancer when the Da Vinci Surgical System was first introduced to Asia in 2003. Since then the department has amassed a wealth of experience in robotic surgery for bladder, kidney and prostate cancers over the years, leading advancements in surgical techniques along the way for robotic cystectomies, robotic prostatectomies as well as robotic partial nephrectomies.

Team members:

Assoc Prof Tay Kae Jack
Assoc Prof John Yuen
Assoc Prof Henry Ho
Prof Christopher Cheng
Clinical Assistant Prof Kenneth Chen
ANC Ms Norlela Hashim
SSN Ms Janice Tin
Principal Clinical Pharmacist Dr Cassandra Chang
Principal Clinical Pharmacist Dr Lim Kiat Wee

Prostate Disease

The centre offers a one-stop evaluation and treatment facility for benign and maglinant prostate diseases. These services include prostate scans, ultrasound guided prostate biopsies, prostate specific antigen tests, urodynamic studies of the bladder and prostate and flexible cystoscopy.

Non-surgical and surgical treatment options for benign and malignant prostate conditions are individually tailored for the patients.

Female Urology and Incontinence

We have a trained Continence Nurse Advisor who provides counseling and education on the practical management of urinary incontinence. Every patient is carefully assessed and the treatment plan is then tailored to meet the needs of the patients and their caregivers.

The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art urodynamic testing facilities to assess incontinence problems in women. Our treatment modalities include medical therapy, bladder rehabilitation and various surgical options such as tension free vaginal tape, colposuspension, collagen injection, slings and artificial urinary sphincters.

Urinary Stones

The centre is equipped with the complete range of stone treatment modalities. These include the most sophisticated non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques such as shockwave, laser, lithoclast and percutaneous nephro-lithotripsy

Transplantation and Dialysis access

Our Urologists work closely with the nephrologists to provide a renal transplantation service for patients with end-stage renal failure. We perform most of the renal transplants in Singapore. In addition, we also provide a dialysis access service. This includes the creation of vascular fistulae and grafts and the insertion of peritoneal catheters for patients on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Infertility and Andrology

The centre provides a thorough evaluation of male infertility problems. Treatment may involve microsurgical techniques to correct congenital defects and to reverse prior vasectomies. Harvesting of sperms for in-vitro fertilization is also performed.

We work with patients to search for solutions to their complex problem. Treatment options include oral medications, injection therapy, vacuum devices and surgical implants.

Reconstructive Urology

We provide reconstructive surgery for various congenital and acquired urological malformations. These complex, reconstructive procedures include neo-bladder formation, ileal conduit creation and urethroplasty

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