Urologic Considerations for the General Surgeon

Abstract

An understanding of the anatomic, physiologic, and pathologic features of the urogenital system is a necessary component of general surgical education. Anatomic considerations include thorough knowledge of the kidneys and ureters; bladder; prostate and seminal vesicles; penis and urethra; and the testes. Urologic injuries are common when multiple organ systems are damaged, occurring in about 10% of cases of major trauma. Iatrogenic injuries can also occur during any open or laparoscopic procedure in the abdomen or the pelvis and may result from transection, ligation, laceration, resection, crushing, or ischemia; they are most likely during gynecologic procedures. The bladder is the genitourinary organ that is most frequently injured during an operation. Statistics and general treatment regimens for urologic malignancies are discussed and include renal cell carcinoma; bladder cancer; prostate cancer; and testicular cancer. The chapter concludes with the incidence and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is becoming increasingly common in the older, male population. Figures show the anatomic relationship of the kidneys to abdominal organs and venous drainage of the kidneys. This review contains 2 figures, 1 table, and 82 references.