We provide expert care for patients of all ages who suffer from problems of the urinary tract and bladder.
Marshfield Clinic urology treats diseases and conditions of the male and female urinary tract system and the male reproductive organs. We also perform major surgery for bladder cancer, prostate cancer and kidney cancer. Urologists combine technical skill in the use of specialized equipment, including robotic surgery, with knowledge of the underlying disease process.
Specialties
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) - This is a condition in which your prostate gland becomes enlarged. As your prostate grows, it can squeeze the urethra, making it harder to urinate. This can block urine flow and cause urinary problems.
Kidney Stones - Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. Kidney stones are hardened mineral deposits that form in your kidney. They start as microscopic particles and develop into stones over time. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention. Stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve major surgery.
Male Infertility - Infertility is any medical condition that impairs a couple’s ability to conceive and give birth. We offer comprehensive infertility services for the treatment of male infertility. Contrary to popular belief, medical treatment for male infertility isn’t necessarily high-tech or experimental. A majority of cases can be treated with medication or surgery.
Sexual Health - Millions of men and women suffer from some form of sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is one of the most difficult topics to discuss. Our Center for Sexual Health is dedicated to providing you with comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction in a confidential fashion.
Pediatric Urology - We provide surgical and non-surgical management of a wide spectrum of urologic disease in infants, children and young adults. Working closely with perinatology, neonatology, pediatric ICU, endocrinology, nephrology, surgery, oncology, genetics and gastroenterology, we offer more than 50 years of combined clinical experience treating these diseases.
Urinary Incontinence - Urinary incontinence is a very common problem affecting as many as 13 million people in the United States. One in five older men deals with incontinence and half of all women experience incontinence at some point. We offer minimally invasive procedures to correct the conditions that cause your urinary incontinence.
Vase ctomy - Many men choose to have a vasectomy as part of their family planning. A vasectomy is a simple, safe and effective surgical procedure that renders a man sterile (unable to father children). It’s an outpatient surgery performed under local anesthetic, and is considered a permanent means of birth control. We also offer vasovasectomy, an operation that reverses a vasectomy.
We offer minimally invasive techniques such as:
Cryotherapy - This is a treatment for prostate cancer used when you haven’t responded to prior therapy. It’s minimally invasive and performed under general anesthetic. Probes are placed into the prostate under ultrasound guidance, then argon gas is administered through the probes to "freeze" and kill the cancer cells.
Cystoscopy - Performed in the office, usually under local anesthetic, your doctor uses a thin, lighted tube (cystoscope) to view the inner lining of the bladder. A cystoscopy is used to evaluate and diagnose a variety of conditions, including: urinary tract infections, bladder stones, scars or narrowing of the urinary channel, and bladder tumors/cancers.
Da Vinci® Prostatectomy - We offer a new, minimally-invasive surgical procedure to remove prostate cancer. The da Vinci® prostatectomy enables our surgeons to see more clearly and to perform more precise surgical incisions. Among the benefits this new robotic system offers are: shorter hospital stays, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal activities.
Laparoscopy - (minimally invasive surgery using small incisions) Kidney tumors can be treated laparoscopically with a decrease in pain and recovery time. Small tumors are treated by exposing them via small skin incisions, then physically removing the tumor or placing a small probe within the tumor and freezing it. The rest of the kidney is preserved, unharmed. Larger tumors often require removal of the entire kidney to effectively treat the tumor. This can be done laparoscopically, using an incision as wide as the surgeon’s hand to extract the kidney intact. The smaller incision results in decreased pain and a quicker return to normal activity. Complete removal of the prostate is an effective treatment for prostate cancer. Compared to conventional prostate surgery, laparoscopic prostatectomy allows for equivalent results, while diminishing pain and recovery time.
Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) - This is a unique and simple treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy. This minimally invasive surgery uses a laser to immediately vaporize and precisely remove prostate tissue, resulting in rapid urinary symptom relief and a dramatic increase in urine flow.
Lithotripsy - Lithotripsy, also known as ESWL (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy), is a noninvasive procedure used to treat kidney stones. Carefully directed shock waves are focused onto the stone, causing it to crumble into small particles so you can easily pass the material.
Trans-Urethral Microwave Therapy (TUMT)- This is a safe, simple, effective procedure that can be performed in your doctor's office under light sedation. During the 90-minute procedure, a catheter is placed in your urethra under ultrasound guidance. The system slowly raises the temperature in the prostate, reducing the amount of tissue surrounding the channel. After about 40 minutes of heating, the treatment catheter is removed and replaced with a regular catheter that will remain in place for about five days.
Brachytherapy (Radiation Seed Implantation) - This is a minimally invasive surgery used for some patients with prostate cancer. Under general anesthetic, radioactive seeds are implanted into your prostate gland. Once the seeds are placed, radiation is absorbed by the gland, destroying the cancer.
Urodynamic testing - This study may be recommended if you’re experiencing various bladder problems, including: incontinence, incomplete emptying, frequent or constant need to urinate, or persistent urinary tract infections. It’s a series of tests that give your doctor a detailed look at the way your bladder and urethra function. Your doctor will review with you the results, diagnosis and suggestions for further evaluation and treatment.
Marshfield Clinic urologists are located in Eau Claire, Marshfield, Minocqua, Rice Lake, Wausau, and Weston, WI.
