Washington Health System

In July, Urologist Mukul Patil, MD, joined Washington Health System and Tricounty Urology Associates. Dr. Patil is fellowship trained in surgical options for men who experience erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence following urologic cancer treatment. "Both surgery and radiation can aect the nerves that help make an erection, and radiation can also aect the arteries that supply the penis with blood," Dr. Patil says. "ese factors, along with men's normal age-related risk for erectile dysfunction, may lead to side eects aer treatment." DEFEATING DYSFUNCTION Conservative therapies for erectile dysfunction, such as oral medications and injections, may not help or be options for some men. In these cases, Dr. Patil may recommend implantation of a penile prosthesis. "e goal of this procedure, which requires small incisions just above or below the penis, is to recreate the patient's ability to spontaneously make and maintain an erection," Dr. Patil says. "is is done with a silicone prosthesis that uses saline to create the erection. e procedure lasts about an hour and can be performed on an outpatient basis, although some patients stay one night in the hospital." CONQUERING INCONTINENCE Men with mild to moderate urinary incontinence may be candidates for injection of bulking agents or surgical placement of a synthetic mesh—known as a male sling procedure—both of which compress the urethra to prevent leakage. "For the worst incontinence, we can place an articial urinary sphincter around the urethra to provide urinary control," Dr. Patil says. "Patients can relax this cu when they need to urinate using a pump that's placed in the scrotum. With this procedure, we want to help patients regain and maintain continence for the rest of their lives." » TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. PATIL OR ANOTHER WHS SPECIALIST, CALL OUR PHYSICIAN REFERRAL LINE AT (724) 250-4310. MUKUL PATIL, MD WELCOME HOME, DR. PATIL For Urologist Mukul Patil, MD, our region is home. The Butler County native received his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago before completing a urology residency and a fellowship in genitourinary prosthetics and male reconstruction at the University of Southern California. In addition to treatment of urologic cancers, he offers a wide variety of general urologic services, including vasectomy, treatment of kidney stones and urinary dysfunction. Dr. Patil spends his free time exercising, trying different types of cuisine, cheering for Pittsburgh sports teams, and spending time with his wife and young son. DEFEATING DYSFUNCTION CONQUERING INCONTINENCE Restoring Quality of Life A fter SURGERY AND R ADIATION FOR PROSTATE, BL ADDER AND COLON CANCER MAY CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS IN MEN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THEM. F A L L 2016 | connections whs.org 13

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