IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGIES IN UROLOGY

T E R M I N O LOGY

IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGIES IN UROLOGY

Antegrade: Toward the normal direction of flow, e.g., from the

kidney to the bladder.

Arteriovenous fistula (or AV shunt): Surgically created vascular

access for patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Calculi: Stones caused by the precipitation of minerals, such as

calcium, and other substances from the kidney filtrate.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL): A procedure in

which ultrasonic sound waves are used to pulverize kidney or

gallbladder stones.

Foley catheter: A retention catheter with an expandable balloon at

the distal end.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): An indication of kidney function

in which serum creatinine (normally filtered by the kidney) is

measured.

Indwelling catheter: A urethral or ureteral catheter that is left in

place for continuous drainage.

Intravasation: The absorption of irrigation fluids into the vascular

system, which causes fluid overload and can result in cardiac

arrest.

Meatotomy: A procedure in which a small incision is made in the

urethral meatus to relieve a stricture.

Nonelectrolyte: Solutions that do not contain electrolytes. These

must be used for bladder distention or continuous irrigation

whenever electrosurgery is performed.

Percutaneous: A term for a procedure that is performed “through

the skin.” For example, in percutaneous nephroscopy, the

nephroscope is inserted into the kidney through a skin

incision.

Reflux: Flow of a body fluid in the direction opposite its normal

path.

Resectoscope: An instrument used to cut and coagulate tissue

piece by piece. It is used in conjunction with endoscopic

procedures to remove tumors or other tissue, such as the

prostate.

Retrograde pyelography: Imaging studies of the renal pelvis in

which a contrast medium is instilled through a transurethral

catheter. Retrograde refers to flow, which is opposite the

normal direction.

Specific gravity: The ratio of the density of a fluid compared to

water. The specific gravity of urine is an important diagnostic

tool.

Staghorn stone: A large, jagged kidney stone that forms in the

renal pelvis.

Stent: A supportive catheter that is placed in a duct or tube to

allow fluids to pass through while the duct heals.

Tamponade: A device that puts pressure on tissue to control

bleeding.

Torsion: Twisting of an organ or a structure on itself. Torsion may

cause local ischemia and necrosis.

Transurethral: Surgical access through the urethral orifice.

• Nephrectomy: A surgical removal of a kidney.
• Pyeloplasty: The surgical reconstruction of the renal pelvis (a part of the kidney) to drain and decompress the kidney. In nearly all cases, the goal of the surgery is to relieve a uretero-pelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction.
• Ureteral reimplants: The original ureter is surgically re-positioned or reimplanted in the bladder wall. The end of the ureter is surrounded by bladder muscle in this new position, which prevents urine from backing up (refluxing) toward the bladder.
• Ureteral stent placement: A thin tube inserted into the ureter to prevent or treat obstruction of the urine flow from the kidney.
• Circumcision: The surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin (prepuce) from the penis.
• Cystoscopy: It is an endoscopy of the urinary bladder via the urethra. It is carried out with an instrument called a cystoscope.
• Excision hydrocele
• Hypospadias: The goal of surgical correction is to reconstruct a straight penis with a urethral opening as close to the tip of the penis as possible.
• Inguinal hernia repair
• Meatoplasty
• Orchiopexy: A surgery to move an undescended testicle into the scrotum and permanently fix it there.
• Repair of buried penis/penile torsion/chordee
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