Urology

We manage medical and surgical care of the urological and genital systems for both boys and girls. We follow our patients from infancy into adolescence.

About

The pediatric urologists care for common problems such as urinary tract infections, wetting, undescended testis, hernias, hydronephrosis, hypospadias, hydroceles and urinary reflux. The urologists perform reconstructive surgery and management of complex genito-urinary congenital anomalies and chronic renal failure.

Our urologists also care for children with neuropathic bladder dysfunction, both congential and acquired. Most of these patients are cared for in the multi-disciplinary spinal cord clinic.

We do not accept consultations for non-medical circumcisions. Newborn circumsicions are not done by the Urology service.

If you need to cancel

If you need to cancel your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible (at least 48 hrs ahead of time, if possible) so that your appoinment time can be used by another patient.

If you need an interpreter

If an interpreter would be helpful to you, please contact us.

Your visit

If you need infomation on travel assistance and accomodation, please see "Planning Your Visit" under Your Visit. (see Quick links)

Other contact information

General clinical inquiries: 604-875-3222
Surgical Daycare Unit: 604-875-2345, ext 7241
Bladder Care Clinic: 604-875-2734, ext 5104
Urology Nurse Clinician (Heidi Barber): 604-875-2889

Our surgeons

Dr Andrew E. MacNeily
MD, FRCSC, FAAP
Professor & Head
Division of Pediatric Urology
UBC Dept. of Urologic Sciences

Dr Kourosh Afshar
MD, MHSC, FRCSC
Associate Professor of Urology
Associate Chief of Surgery
Division of Pediatric Urology
UBC Dept. of Urologic Sciences

Dr John S.T. Masterson
B.Sc., MD, FRCSC, FACS, DABU
Clinical Professor
Division of Pediatric Urology
UBC Department of Urologic Sciences

Dr Soojin Kim
MD, BHsc, FRCS(C)
Assistant Professor
Division of Pediatric Urology
UBC Department of Urologic Sciences

Prepare

What happens at your visit

You can get directions to our clinic from the Information Desk in the front lobby of the main hospital building.

Most of our patients have been pre-registered prior to their appointment. If you have not been contacted by the Pre-registration Office, please go directly to the Urology Clinic and we will register you.

Plan on being at the hopsital for at least an hour for your clinic visit with the Urologist. Keep in mind that should you have a procedure or test scheduled on the same day, your stay might be longer.

If you have been asked to bring a Voiding Diary to your appointment, please record 3 full days of information prior to your visit. See "Voiding Diary" under Quick links.

Procedures & tests

Renal Ultrasound
Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG)
Nuclear Medicine
Urodynamic/Video Urodynamic Study
Uroflow Study

Renal Ultrasound

Your renal ultrasound will take place in the Radiology Department in the main hospital building. It is important that your child has a full bladder upon arrival to the test. Children who have bladder control should not empty their bladder for 1 hour before the ultrasound. No other preparation is needed. For more information on ultrasound examinations, search for "Radiology" in our Resource Centre catalogue.

Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG)

Your VCUG will take place in the Radiology Department in the main hospital building. The VCUG test shows what happens inside your child's body as he or she pees. The radiologist will look to see whether urine flows backwards from the bladder to the kidneys. This condition is called reflux. The urologist may have asked for this test because your child has had bladder or urinary tract infections (UTIs).

A VCUG uses x-ray pictures so the radiologist can see your child's bladder, kidneys and the tubes that connect them, called ureters. An x-ray dye is put into the bladder through a small tube called a catheter. The catheter is inserted into the urethra and is used for the flow of dye into the bladder.

It is important to discuss what will happen during the VCUG with your child so that they feel prepared. For more information on the VCUG test, please search for "Radiology" in our Resource Centre catalogue. No other preparation is needed.

Nuclear Medicine

Your Nuclear Medicine Scan will take place in the Nuclear Medicine Department in the main hospital building. The scan may be requested by your urologist if your child has had many UTIs or has renal scarring. This scan focuses on the function and structure of the kidney.

It is important to discuss what will happen during a nuclear medicine scan with your child so that they feel prepared. They will have an intravenous (IV) inserted into their vein as a part of this test. No other preparation is needed. For more information on Nuclear Medicine scans, please search for "Radiology" in our Resource Centre catalogue.

Urodynamic/Video Urodynamic Study

Your Urodynamic Study will take place in the Urology Clinic in the Ambulatory Care Building. This test helps to give the urologist information on how well the bladder is able to store urine. A urodynamic study may have been asked for because your child has had a bladder or urinary tract infection (UTI), urinary incontinence or has a spinal cord abnormality.

Children who have bladder control should not empty their bladder for 1 hour before the test. They will be asked to empty their bladder at the time of the test. The nurse will insert a small tube into the urethra called a catheter. The catheter is used for the flow of sterile water into the bladder. There will also be a small tube inserted into the rectum. For more information on the Urodynamic Study, please see the "Test" section under the Resource tab.

Your Video Urodynamic study will take place in the Radiology Deparment of the main hospital building. This test is done in the same way as the Urodynamic study and requires the same preparation.

A video urodynamic study uses x-ray pictures so the urologist can see your child's bladder, kidneys and the tubes that connect them, called ureters. An x-ray dye is put into the bladder through the catheter tube, instead of sterile water. For more information on the Video Urodynamic Study, please see the "Test" section under the Resource tab.

Uroflow Study

Your Uroflow Study will take place in the Urology Clinic in the Ambulatory Care Building. This test measures the amount of urine in the bladder, how long it takes to urinate (pee) and how fast the urine comes out.

To prepare for this test, give your child plenty to drink and do not allow them to empty their bladder for 1 hour before the Uroflow. No other preparation is needed for this test. For more information on the Uroflow Study, please see the "Test" section under the Resource tab.

Resources

General

Retractile Testicle

Urinary Reflux
Urinary Tract Infections and Pyelonephritis
Bladder Training Video for Kids - If you are prompted to enter a Username and Password, please enter:

Username: btvurotherapy
Password: btv2014

Foreskin Care for Boys

Tests

Procedures

Normal Healing Photos After Penile Surgery

Tab Heading

Provincial Health Services Authority