Urological Surgeon

A urological surgeon is a surgeon who works in the field of urology which is concerned with the urinary tracts of both males and females, and also the reproductive system of males. This involves work on the kidneys, the bladder, and the urethra, and also the male reproductive organs.

Traditionally, many urological problems went untreated with people anxious to avoid invasive surgery. However, many of the problems and disorders could, historically, only be treated by surgery. Much of it was concerned with the removal of bladder stones, which was done with surgery. However, many urological procedures were developed during the 19th century, and the nature of urological surgery changed when an early urological surgeon, the German doctor Gustav Simon, in 1869, was able to demonstrate that human patients could survive after the removal of one of their kidneys providing the other one was healthy. This has meant that many urological surgeons are involved in the removal of kidneys and also in kidney transplants.

Kidney removal and kidney transplants are now major areas of medical science. Although kidney transplants have been carried out since the late 1950s, major progress was made only in 1963 when the immunosuppressive drug azathioprine was developed to prevent the recipient's body rejecting the new kidney. Many famous people have had kidney transplants: the Australian media identity and billionaire Kerry Packer whose donor was his helicopter pilot and the Philippine president Ferdinand E. Marcos who survived one failed operation, had a second using a kidney from his sister, and eventually succumbed to kidney problems.

Urilogical surgeons conduct surgery involving the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters, and the urethra, and also the male reproductive organs. They are involved in the removal of kidneys and also in kidney transplants.