Asiri Surgical opens one-stop urodynamics laboratory

Dr. Julian Shah and Dr. Suks Minhas, Consultant Urological Surgeons from London, addressing a large gathering of consultant urologists and trainees at the Urological Conference held at the Asiri Surgical Hospital this month said that with the rising problems relating to urinary and bladder dysfunctions, many patients are not properly diagnosed and suffer the consequences which are, most often, life threatening or lead to detrimental lifestyles.

“Kidney stones, male incontinence and fistulae are usually common amongst Asians and along with the lack of proper medical attention, the lack of proper equipment is also a hindrance to the patients,” said Dr. Shah. “In Sri Lanka, it is normal for a general surgeon to perform such operations.”

Both Dr. Minhas Suks and Dr. Julian Shah are visiting Consultant Urological Surgeons from the University College Hospital in London. Dr Shah is also a senior lecturer at the Institute of Urology in London, who contributed to the training of some senior consultant urologists in Sri Lanka such as Dr. Anura Wijewardane, Dr. S.A.S. Gunewardene and Prof. Neville Perera during the early 1990s.  

As a leader in medicare in the country, the Asiri Surgical Hospital has set up the nation’s most modern urodynamics lab. This one-stop shop is fully equipped with all the state-of-the-art facilities and consultants qualified in urology.  

Urodynamics is the investigation of the function of the lower urinary tract – the bladder and urethra – using physical measurements such as bladder pressure and flow rate as well as clinical assessment and provide extremely valuable diagnostic data for bladder dysfunctions like incontinence, urinary retention and frequency, nocturia, hesitancy, and all other storage and micturition issues.

The Asiri Urodynamics Centre will also provide testing of uroflowmetry, filling cystometry, pressure-flow study, and Urethral Pressure Profiles (UPP), VLPP (Valsalva Leak Point Pressure), EMG (Electromyography).

Dr. Anura Wijewardena, Consultant Urologist at the Asiri Group of Hospitals said, “To assist in the proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment of bladder dysfunctions, the study of urodynamics is essential. Most urological diseases are treatable and it is essential that proper treatment is given. Therefore the availability of this facility would help the urologists and gynecologists in proper management of patients with disorders of urinary bladder activity.”

Apart from ordinary urinary problems, the urodynamics centre will also be useful for the diagnosis and management of urological conditions such as functional bladder disorders and urinary voiding disorders related to spinal cord diseases or injuries.

Dr. Wijewardena added that around 20 urologists have been trained in the past two decades which has substantially helped open more urological units outside of Colombo and Kandy. “However, this is not sufficient and the country needs more urologists to deal with the rising problems such as urinary stones, and prostate diseases which are two commoner conditions.”

Other worsening conditions are urinary tract cancers, infections, and male sexual dysfunction. “In my opinion the minimum requirement at present is 40 urologists at least to cover 500,000 per single urologist,” Wijewardena stated. “In a developed country, one urologist will cover much less than a population of 100,000 people.”