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Absorbent Products: Pads and garments, disposable or reusable, worn to absorb

leaked urine. Absorbent products include shields, undergarment pads, combination

pad-pant systems, diaperlike garments, and bed pads.

Artificial sphincter: Sometimes complicated cases of incontinence require

implantation of a device known as an artificial urinary sphincter. People who might

benefit from this treatment include those who are incontinent after surgery for

prostate cancer or stress incontinence, trauma victims and people with congenital

defects in the urinary system. The artificial sphincter has three components, including

a pump, balloon reservoir, and a cuff that encircles the urethra and prevents urine from

leaking out. The cuff is connected to the pump, which is surgically implanted in the

scrotum (in men) or labia (in women). The pump can be activated (usually by

squeezing or pressing a button) to deflate the cuff and permit the bladder to empty.

After a brief interval, the cuff refills itself and the urethra is again closed. Because the

artificial sphincter is an implant, it is subject to the risks common to implants, such as

infection, erosion (breaking down of tissue) and mechanical malfunction. Yet with

appropriate pre-surgical evaluation, operative techniques and postoperative ollow-up,

many problems can be avoided and incontinent patients can experience an improved

quality of life with this device.

Anemia: A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin,

volume. or in total

Anxiety: A debilitating condition of fear, which interferes with normal life functions.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART): The new forms of fertility treatment

incorporated many methods of sperm retrieval and preparation. Once the sperm

have been processed to ensure optimal fertilizing potential, they are used in a variety

of procedures that aid the process of conception. These procedures include artificial

insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and sperm microinjection techniques.

Autologous: Derived from the same individual.

Behavioral Techniques: Different methods to help "retrain" the bladder and get

rid of the urgency to urinate. (See biofeedback, bladder training, electrical

stimulation, habit training, pelvic muscle exercises, promptedvoiding).

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A condition in which the prostate becomes

enlarged as part of the aging process.

Benign Tumor: A tumor that is not cancerous.

Bilateral: A term describing a condition that affects both sides of the body or two

paired organs, such as kidneys.

Biofeedback: A procedure that uses electrodes to help people gain awareness

and control of their pelvic muscles.

Bladder: A hollow muscular balloon shaped organ that stores urine until it is

excreted from the body.

Bladder Training: A behavioral technique that teaches the patient to resist or

inhibit the urge to urinate, and to urinate according to a schedule rather than

urinating at the urge.

Brachytherapy: Involves the placement of tiny radioactive pellets into the prostate

gland. By utilizing ultrasound to place the seed pellets, damage to surrounding

tissues is minimized. Approximately 13,500-16,000 rads of radiation energy is

delivered directly to the prostate. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis.

It is a one time procedure with very effective results. The 10-year follow-up outcome

data parallels that of Radical Prostatectomy.

Catheter: A tube passed through the body for draining fluids or injecting them into

body cavities. It may be made of elastic, elastic web, rubber, glass, metal or plastic.

Catheterization: Insertion of a slender tube through the urethra or through the

anterior abdominal wall into the bladder, urinary reservoir, or urinary conduit to allow

urine drainage.

Chancre: A hard, syphilitic primary ulcer, the first sign of syphilis, appearing

approximately 2 to 3 weeks after infection. The ulcer begins as a painless lesion or

papule that ulcerates. Occurs generally singly, but sometimes may be multiple.

Chemolysis: Certain types of kidney stones can be dissolved with the application

chemicals. Uric acid stones, for example, can be dissolved with a solution of sodium

bicarbonate in saline. Cystine stones may be treated successfully with a combination

of acetylcysteine and sodium bicarbonate in saline. Struvite and carbon apatite stones

can be treated with an acidic solution of hemiacidrin. The procedure involves infusing

the chemical solution into the affected area by means of a ureteral catheter in a series

of treatments over time until the stone is dissolved. The patient's urine must be cultured

regularly throughout the course of treatment to guard against urinary infection and

prevent the buildup of excessive chemical levels, particularly magnesium, which can

cause other health problems.

Colon: The large intestine.

Creatinine: A waste product that is filtered from the blood by the kidneys and expelled

in urine.

Cryotherapy: During an operation probes are placed in the prostate. The probes are

then frozen which kill the prostatic cells.

Cystocele: A herniation of bladder into vagina.

Cyst: A lump filled with either fluid or soft material, occurring in any organ or tissue;

may occur for a number of reasons but is usually harmless unless its presence disrupts

organ or tissue function.

Cystectomy: Surgical removal of the bladder.

Cystoscopy: A flexible scope is inserted into the urethra and then into the bladder to

determine abnormalities in the bladder and lower urinary tract.

Diabetes mellitus: A common form of diabetes in which the body cannot properly store

or use glucose (sugar), the body's main source of energy.

Diuretic: A drug that increases the amount of water in the urine, removing excess water

from the body; used in treating high blood pressure and fluid retention.

Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy (EHL): This technique uses a special probe to break up

small stones with shock waves generated by electricity. Through a flexible ureteroscope,

the physician positions the tip of the probe 1 mm from the stone. Then, by means of a foot

switch, the physician projects electrically generated hydraulic shock waves through an

irrigating fluid at the stone until it is broken into small fragments. These can be passed by

the patient or removed through the previously described extraction methods. EHL has one

limitation: it requires general anesthesia, and is generally not used in close proximity to the

kidney itself, as the shock waves can cause tissue damage. Fragments produced by the

hydraulic shock also tend to scatter widely, making retrieval or extraction more difficult.

Enterocele: Herniation of small bowel into vagina.

Estrogen: Hormones responsible for the development of female sex characteristics,

produced by the ovary.

External Beam Radiation Therapy: A 25-28 treatment protocol that utilizes External

Beam Radiation.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

uses highly focused impulses projected from outside the body to pulverize kidney stones.

Habit Training: A behavioral technique that calls for scheduled toileting at regular intervals

on a planned basis. Unlike bladder training, there is no systematic effort to motivate the

patient to delay voiding and resist urge.

Hormonal therapy: Involves the use of anti-androgens. An androgen is a male hormone

needed for the production of testosterone. By depriving the cancer cells of the testosterone

they need for growth, tumors regress in size and cellular activity. Side effects include

gynecomastia, the enlargement of breast tissue, hot flashes, and loss of libido (desire to

have sex). Some long term hormonal therapy is associated with the loss of muscle mass,

osteoporosis, and malaise (loss of energy).

Hydrocele: A painless swelling of the scrotum, caused by a collection of fluid around the

testicle; commonly occurs in middle-aged men.

Hypermobility: A condition characterized in which the pelvic floor muscles can no longer

provide the necessary support to the urethra and bladder neck. As a result, the bladder

neck drops when any downward pressure is applied and causing involuntary leakage. This

condition is the most common cause of stress urinary incontinence.

Hyperplasia: Excessive growth of normal cells of an organ.

Insemination: The placement of semen into a woman's uterus, cervix, or vagina.

InterStim Continence Control Therapy: A therapy used in treating urge incontinence.

A device, about the size of a pacemaker, that is implanted into the sacral nerves of the

lower spine, where it delivers electrical impulses that help regulate bladder function.

Interstitial laser: A laser probe is placed within prostatic tissue. Laser energy is then

used to destroy prostatic tissue which makes urination easier.

Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency (ISD): Weakening of the urethra sphincter muscles.

As a result of this weakening the sphincter does not function normally regardless of

the position of the bladder neck or urethra. This condition is a common cause of

stress urinary incontinence.

Irritable Bladder: Involuntary contractions of muscles in the bladder, which can cause

lack of control of urination.

Kegel Exercises: Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which leads

to more control and prevents leakage.

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located at the back of the abdominal cavity. Kidneys

make urine through blood filtration.

Kidney Stone: A hard mass composed of substances from the urine that form in the

kidneys.

Laparoscopy: Surgery using a laparoscope to visualize internal organs through a small

incision. Generally less invasive than transitional surgeries requiring a shorter recovery

period.

Laparoscopic Lymph Node Dissection: If a perineal prostatectomy is contemplated

then prior to the operation the pelvic lymph nodes are sampled via three small incisions

made in the abdomen, much like the procedure used to remove gallbladders.

Lithotripsy: A procedure done to break up stones in the urinary tract using ultrasonic

shock waves, so that the fragments can be easily passed from the body.

Menopause: The period that marks the permanent cessation of menstrual activity,

usually occurring between the ages of 40 and 58.

Metastasis: The spreading of a cancerous tumor to another part of the body.

Microwave (Targis): A catheter is placed within the bladder and positioned within the

prostate, then the antenna emits microwaves. This procedure increases the passageway

allowing for easier urination.

Mixed Incontinence: Having both stress and urge incontinence.

Nephrectomy: Removal of an entire kidney.

Open Nephrolithotomy: Is the most invasive procedure for removing kidney stones.

Because it is so traumatic, most kidneys can withstand no more than two such

operations. Deep anesthesia is required, after which the surgeon makes a large

(10-20 centimeter) incision in the patient's back or abdomen (depending upon where

the stone is located). Either the ureter or the kidney is opened and the stone

extracted. Most patients require prolonged hospitalization afterward, and recovery

may take up to two months.

Orchiectomy: The surgical removal of one or both of the testicles.

Orchitis: Inflammation of a testicle.

Overactive bladder: A condition characterized by involuntary bladder muscle

contractions during the bladder filling phase which

Overflow UI: Leakage of small amounts of urine from a bladder that is always full.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCN): Percutaneous means "through the skin". In

PCN, the surgeon or urologist makes a 1 centimeter incision under local anesthesia

in the patient's back, through which an instrument called a nephroscope is passed

and, if necessary, the ureter. Smaller stones may be manually extracted. Large ones

may need to be broken up with ultrasonic, electrohydraulic or laser-tipped probes

before they can be extracted. A tube may be inserted into the kidney for drainage.

Pelvic muscle exercises: Pelvic muscle exercises are intended to improve your pelvic

muscle tone and prevent leakage for sufferers of stress urinary incontinence. Also called

Kegel exercises (see biofeedback).

Periurethral bulking injections: A surgical procedure in which injected implants are

used to "bulk up" the area around the neck of the bladder allowing it to resist increases

in abdominal pressure which can push down on the bladder and cause leakage.

Post-void residual (PVR) volume: A diagnostic test which measures how much urine

remains in the bladder after urination. Specific measurement of PVR volume can be

accomplished by catheterization, pelvic ultrasound, radiography, or radioisotope studies.

Prostaglandin: Any of various oxygenated unsaturated cyclic fatty acids of animals that

have a variety of hormone-like actions (as in controlling blood pressure or smooth muscle

contraction).

Prostate: A muscular, walnut-sized gland that surrounds part of the urethra. It secretes

seminal fluid, a milky substance that combines with sperm (produced in the testicles) to

form semen.

Prostatectomy: Surgical removal of the prostate.

Suprapubic/retropubic Prostatectomy: This involves the removal of obstructing prostatic

tissue through a supra-pubic incision (a cut below the belly button). The prostate is not

wholly removed. Suprapubic prostatectomy requires incising the bladder to remove the

obstructing tissue while a Retropubic approach involves incising the prostatic capsule to

remove the obstructing tissue. Both approaches utilize an abdominal incision.

Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy: Removal of prostate through an abdominal incision.

The prostate is completely removed. The advantage is that the lymph nodes can be

sampled at the time of the operation and the nerve-sparing procedure is easier to do via

this operation.

Perineal Prostatectomy: A perineal incision is utilized. The advantages are: less blood

loss, easier visualization of the bladder/urethral anastomosis and decreased recovery time

because the incision does not involve muscle or any other vital tissue.

Prostatic stent: Inserted through a cystoscope, it is a wire device that expands after

placement thus pushing prostate tissue away from passageway allowing for easier urination.

Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate.

Prostatron: Also called TUMT or Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy. A catheter is

placed within the bladder and positioned within the prostate, then the antenna emits

microwaves. This procedure increases the passageway allowing for easier urination.

Pubovaginal Sling: A surgical procedure in which a man-made or cadaveric piece of

material is placed under the bladder neck to support and immobilize. This technique

improves sphincter function and decreases bladder neck movement, improving continence.

Pyelonephritis: Inflammation of the kidney, usually due to a bacterial infection.

Pyuria: The presence of pus in the urine; usually an indication of kidney or urinary tract

infection.

Rectocele: A herniation of rectum into the vagina.

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD): Infections that are most commonly spread

through sexual intercourse or genital contact.

Sling Procedures: Surgical methods for treating urinary incontinence involving the

placement of a sling, made either of tissue obtained from the person undergoing the

sling procedure or a synthetic material. The sling is anchored to retropubic and/or

abdominal structures.

Sphincter: A ring of muscle fibers located around an opening in the body that

regulates the passage of substances.

Stress Test: A diagnostic test that requires patients to lift something or perform an

exercise to determine if there is urine loss when stress is placed on bladder muscles.

Stress Urinary Incontinence: Urinary incontinence: the involuntary loss of urine during

period of increased abdominal pressure. Such events include laughing, sneezing,

coughing or lifting heavy objects.

Testosterone: The sex hormone that stimulates development of male sex characteristics

and bone and muscle growth; produced by the testicles and in small amounts by the

ovaries.

Transient Urinary Incontinence: Temporary episodes of urinary incontinence that are

gone when the cause of the episode is identified and treated, such as a bladder infection.

TUMT (Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy): See Prostatron.

TUNA (Transurethral Needle Ablation): The instrument is placed into prostate tissue

through cystoscope the tissue between the needles is destroyed via thermal energy.

TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate): A surgical telescope is used to core

out the inside of the prostate (urethra) creating a larger channel making the passage of

urine easier. This is the gold standard for treatment of BPH.

Ultrasonic Lithotripsy: Similar to ureteroscopy, ultrasonic lithotripsy uses an optical

scope and electronic probe, inserted into the ureter under epidural (spinal) anesthesia,

to locate the stone. High-frequency ultrasound waves then are directed at the stone to

break it up gradually. The fragments can either be passed naturally by the patient or

removed by grasping forceps, basket extraction or suction through the scope instrument.

The instrument is not flexible, however, so ultrasonic lithotripsy typically can be employed

only when a straight path directly from outside the body to the stone is possible.

Underactive bladder: A condition characterized by a bladder contraction of inadequate

magnitude and/or duration to effect bladder emptying in a normal time span. This

condition can be caused by drugs, fecal impaction, and neurologic conditions such as

diabetic neuropathy or low spinal cord injury or as a result of radical pelvic surgery. It also

can result from a weakening of the detrusor muscle from vitamin B12 deficiency or

idiopathic causes. Bladder underactivity may cause overdistension of the bladder, resulting

in overflow incontinence (see overflow incontinence).

Ureteroscopy: A flexible, fiberoptic instrument resembling a long, thin, telescope is

inserted through the urethra and bladder up to the ureter to visualize the tube. Often

used for retrieval of kidney stones.

Urge UI: The involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden and strong urge to void

(urgency).

Urge/urgency: A strong desire to void.

Urinalysis: A group of physical and chemical tests done on a sample of urine to check for

various disorders, including those of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Urinary incontinence (UI): Involuntary loss of urine sufficient to be a problem. There are

several types of UI, but all are characterized by an inability to restrain voiding.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs): UTIs are caused by bacteria that invade the urinary

system and multiply, leading to an infection.

Urodynamics tests: Diagnostic tests to examine the bladder and urethral sphincter function.

Varicocelectomy: The cutting away of a varicocele.

Varicocele Embolization: An outpatient procedure in which the varicocele is closed off

(occluded) by means of a balloon catheter (flexible tube with a tiny detachable balloon),

steel coil, and/or sclerosing (vessel-hardening) solution.

Vasoepididymostomy: A microsurgical procedure that uses a microscopic camera and

very small operative tools to correct obstructions in the genital tract. The procedure requires

removal of the blockage in the epididymis (the coiled tube that extends the length of each

testis and connects with a larger duct - the vas deferens) and re-attachment of the epididymis

to the vas deferens.

Vasovasostomy: Vasovasostomy is a vasectomy reversal, the re-connection of the severed

ends of the vas deferens restoring the flow of sperm through the vas deferens.

Vaportrode: A type of cautery electrode that varporizes prostatic tissue. This creates a larger

prostatic channel which makes urination easier.

Vesica Sling Procedure: is a surgical sling procedure used to stabilize the bladder neck and

provide support for the urethra using autologous or synthetic sling material. This procedure

treats both hypermobility and ISD.