Over the past couple of months there has been a mini-flood of negative coverage regarding robotic surgery.  First was the article in JAMA, indicating that robotic hysterectomy wasn't any better than laparoscopic hysterectomy, but just cost significantly more.  http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1653522  

I'm not a gynecologist, but I never really understood the need to wheel in a 1.8 million dollar machine to take out a uterus, when most GYN's, even those without great laparoscopic skills, can do the same thing quickly, safely, and pretty easily with a laparaoscope.  There's not much sewing, no fine dissection, and really the case lends itself well to pure laparoscopy.  

Then there's this one:  http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/robot-hot-surgeons-fda-taking-18911544  "FDA Probing Spike in Robotic Surgery Problems".  Newsflash:   Bad surgeons, with expensive instruments, are still bad surgeons.  Surgeons who don't really know how to use an instrument, but go ahead and operate on people with it, are dangerous.  

My $0.02:  What do you need the robot for?  Fine sewing and fine manipulation, deep in the body.  Can I sew a bladder to a urethra water-tight, with 12-16 stitches by hand?  Probably not, most open surgeons are happy to get 6 good sutures in place.  Laparoscopically?  Probably not.  With the robot?  Absolutely.  And that water-tight closure means better healing, getting a catheter out faster, less scar tissue formation, and (I think) better return to urinary continence for guys having a prostatectomy. 

Can I sew up a kidney more securely, and get its blood vessels unclamped faster during a tumor removal faster with the robot than I can with a laparoscope?  I certainly think so.   If I'm betting someone's kidney, I don't have 5 minutes to lose. 

Robotics may be suffering from its own success.  There is a lot of over-use, both in case selections where the benefit is marginal, and by doctors who don't have much experience, and shouldn't be messing around with the technology.  

After a tightly contested battle, Dr. Clyde Corey claimed the crown of "Ultimate Mo" with the best Texas Regional Urology Movember moustache, 2012.  He won with 351 votes, trailed by Matt Hogan with 214 Votes.  In "Worst Moustache" voting, Dr. Schraudenbach ran away with 157 votes.  (I got the least votes for worst Moustache, so I will give myself the title of "least offensive moustache")  To date we have raised $1925, soon to be $2425 after Corey and Schraudenbach claim their respective prizes.  

Worldwide Movember contributions stand at  $111,660,742 (!)  

The Woodlands, TX (PRWEB) November 29, 2012

Combining advanced surgical techniques with high-definition imaging procedures, Dr. Drew Dylewski, a urologist with Texas Regional Urology, is able to provide patients with a world-class treatment program for kidney cancers and newly diagnosed kidney masses.

Kidney cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and women, and it will affect almost 1 in 50 Americans. As Computed Tomography (CAT) scans are becoming more common, millions of patients are diagnosed with suspicious kidney masses that are found accidentally. Most of these masses are not dangerous, but a suspicious kidney lesion requires expert evaluation by a urologist, a surgeon specializing in the urinary tract.

In the past, treatment would often mean removal of the entire kidney through a large open incision. However several new advances in technology have revolutionized the approach to kidney masses.

Dr. Dylewski is one of only a few surgeons in the Houston area to regularly use robotic surgery to perform a laparoscopic removal of the diseased portion of the kidney. Using the da Vinci® surgical robotic system, he is able to remove kidney cancers through small laparoscopic incisions.

"Kidney surgery used to mean a 10-inch incision and almost a month of painful recovery. With the da Vinci® surgical robot, I'm able to achieve the same results through several tiny incisions. Patients are home faster, have much less pain, and are back to work in a week or two."

New studies have shown that many small kidney masses can be safely observed, particularly in older patients who are higher-risk for surgical procedures. High-resolution CAT scans are combined with kidney biopsies where necessary, and many of these patients can avoid surgery altogether.

"There are still patients for whom an open incision, or removal of the entire kidney, is the right choice," says Dr. Dylewski. "However, patients need to know that there are many other options, and when they are being evaluated for a kidney mass, it is extremely important that they visit with a specialist with advanced training who can offer them all of these options."

Texas Regional Urology is the leading group urology practice in northern metro Houston. The practice provides comprehensive, compassionate, and cutting-edge urologic care for both adult and pediatric patients with locations in Tomball, The Woodlands, and Kingwood. Texas Regional Urology offers a small-office, patient-centered approach to medical care, and same-day appointments, Monday through Friday, in three clinic locations. Physicians provide medical services in both English and Spanish.

To contact Texas Regional Urology for more information, or to schedule an appointment, visithttp://www.texasregionalurology.com.

For more information about the da Vinci® Surgical system please visit http://davincisurgery.com

Tomball Office 
919 Graham Dr, Ste A 
Tomball, TX 77375 
(281) 290-9800

The Woodlands Office 
1011 Medical Plaza Dr, Ste 250 
The Woodlands, TX 77380 
(832) 442-2392

Kingwood Office 
22999 Hwy 59 Ste 276 
Kingwood, TX 77339 
(281) 570-1391

###

Great article on our Movember efforts by Crystal Simmons, with the Cypress Creek Mirror.  Link is here, thanks Crystal!

http://www.prweb.com/releases/texas_regional_urology/movember_prostate_health/prweb10033654.htm

Houston, TX (PRWEB) October 22, 2012

Four doctors from Texas Regional Urology -- Drs. Clyde Corey, Drew Dylewski, Matthew Hogan, and Penner Schraudenbach -- are joining thousands of men in Houston and around the globe to grow a moustache for Movember, the month-long campaign to raise awareness for men’s health. Participants, known as Mo Bros, register athttp://www.movember.com, start the month clean-shaven, and then grow moustaches throughout the month in an effort to raise funds and spark conversations about men’s health, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.

Movember aims to forever change the face of men's health through the power of the moustache. Since 2003, more than 1.9 million participants have raised over $299 million for the cause, with official Movember campaigns taking place in 21 countries. In 2011, more than 145,000 Americans grew and supported the Mo, raising over $15 million for the cause. In the US, funds raised are directed to programs run by Movember and its men’s health partners, Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and LIVESTRONG.

“Men’s health is a huge part of our practice as urologists,” says Dr. Schraudenbach. “We look forward to the lighthearted, fun side of the effort, but we also see patients every week with prostate and testicular cancer, and that is deadly serious. If we can raise awareness with something as simple as a moustache, it’s a no-brainer.”

“We are really excited for our team to be a part of Movember this year,” says Dr. Dylewski. “Each moustache will create many conversations over the month, and each of those interactions is a chance to educate and highlight the importance of men taking care of their health.”

The doctors will sponsor a “Vote for the Best/Worst Moustache” poll on their web page athttp://www.texasregionalurology.com/movember.html. The doctors with the best moustache (“Ultimate Mo”) and the worst (“Lame Mo”) will sponsor additional donations.

“Dr. Corey may have an edge, as he has years of experience with facial hair, and we are concerned that he may have access to grooming equipment or techniques that we are not yet aware of,” says Dr. Hogan. “But it’s all for a good cause, and at the end of the month, let the best Mo win!”

Drs. Corey, Hogan, Dylewski and Schraudenbach, along with Dr. Liliana Woo, are the founders of Texas Regional Urology, the leading group urology practice in northern metro Houston. The practice provides comprehensive, compassionate, and cutting-edge urologic care for both adult and pediatric patients with locations in Tomball, The Woodlands, and Kingwood. Texas Regional Urology offers a small-office, patient-centered approach to medical care.

All five doctors are general urologists, surgeons who manage common diseases such as kidney stones, enlarged prostate (BPH), incontinence, and prostate cancer. They perform surgical procedures such as lithotripsy for kidney stones, robotic prostatectomy, and sling procedures for urinary incontinence. Common minor procedures such asno-scalpel vasectomy and microwave treatment for enlarged prostate are comfortably performed in the office under local anesthesia. Each physician has special areas of interest, as well as the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat the full range of urologic problems.

To contact Texas Regional Urology for more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit http://www.texasregionalurology.com

For more information about Movember, please visit http://www.movember.com

Kingwood, TX (PRWEB) September 19, 2012

Dr. Drew Dylewski, a urologist with Texas Regional Urology, announced that he will begin offering clinic appointments in the group's Kingwood office starting November 8, 2012. Joining his partner Dr. Liliana Woo, he will provide general urology services, with a special focus on robotic surgery, men's health, prostate cancer, and low testosterone.

Dr. Dylewski has been practicing in Montgomery County since 2007. He has been active in The Woodlands and Conroe area for five years and has held a staff position at Kingwood Medical Center since 2007. He has built a large program in robotic surgery and is one of the most experienced surgeons in Houston to provide the DaVinci robotic prostatectomy for the management of prostate cancer. He also performs robotic kidney surgery for the removal of small cancers and for the reconstruction of blocked kidneys.

"Dr. Woo has built a very strong practice in Kingwood, and she sets the bar high with her dedication and clinical expertise. I plan to bring to patients in Kingwood a special focus on the urologic problems facing men. Kingwood Medical Center serves as a hub for patients from Splendora, New Caney, Cleveland, and as far away as Livingston, and I look forward to joining my partner Dr. Woo in delivering an excellent quality of care to patients at Texas Regional Urology's Kingwood location."

Dr. Drew Dylewski, a graduate of Princeton University, earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine and completed his training in surgery and urology at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. He is extensively trained in robotic and laparoscopic procedures and performs robotic-assisted prostatectomy for the management of prostate cancer. Dr. Dylewski is a board-certified urologist in practice since 2007.

Dr. Liliana Woo earned her undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at El Paso and went on to earn her medical degree at Harvard Medical School. Following her surgery internship and urology training at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, she started practice in 2004. A board-certified urologist, Dr. Woo focuses on female pelvic reconstruction and incontinence surgery.

Dr. Woo and Dr. Dylewski have joined to practice with Dr. Matthew Hogan, Dr. Clyde Corey, and Dr. Penner Schraudenbach. All five doctors are general urologists, surgeons who manage common diseases such as kidney stones, enlarged prostate (BPH), incontinence, and prostate cancer. They perform surgical procedures such aslithotripsy for kidney stones, sling procedures for urinary incontinence, no-scalpel vasectomy, and cystoscopy, or endoscopic evaluation of the bladder.

All five physicians have admitting and surgical privileges at St. Luke's The Vintage Hospital, Tomball Regional Hospital, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital, Kingwood Medical Center, and Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital Kingwood.

Texas Regional Urology offers same-day appointments, Monday through Friday, in three clinic locations, and Dr. Dylewski and Dr. Woo provide medical services in both English and Spanish.

To contact Texas Regional Urology for more information, or to schedule an appointment, visithttp://www.texasregionalurology.com.

Kingwood Office 
22999 Hwy 59 Ste 276 
Kingwood, TX 77339 
(281) 570-1391

The Woodlands Office 
1011 Medical Plaza Dr, Ste 250 
The Woodlands, TX 77380 
(832) 442-2392

Tomball Office 
919 Graham Dr, Ste A 
Tomball, TX 77375 
(281) 290-9800

I am very excited to announce that I will be seeing clinic in the Kingwood office starting November 8, 2012.  

There are a lot of fantastic primary care docs in the Kingwood region, as well as the entire US-59 corridor, through Splendora and up to Livingston.  I already see many patients from this area, and I hope this makes me more accessible for them.    

I will be able to offer experience in advanced laparoscopic and robotic urology that is not available in the Kingwood region now. 

I'm booking appointments already, so we'll see everyone in Kingwood!

It looks like November is going to be a little "hairy" around the office.  Drs. Dylewski, Corey, Hogan, and Schraudenbach are growing 'staches, in support of Movember, a global men's health initiative.  Updates to follow, for now stay tuned to our Movember webpage for updates, or check out the official Movember site for more information.

Unfortunately for many Texas residents, a summer of dehydration and brisket has caught up with them, and our clinic is lined with people suffering from kidney stones.  These are terribly, terribly painful, and you should seek care immediately if you are passing a stone.  Fortunately, we are able to offer a complete array of services to remove stones, and more importantly, to prevent them going forward.  Please click here to review our new Kidney Stone information site.