Third chapter of surgeons lecture: revolution in urology and its evolution in Singapore

Urology has been an evolving specialty since the time of Hippocrates. The itinerant surgeon was known to go from town to town to remove bladder stones in the early middle ages. In this century, urologists had been at the forefront in pioneering minimally invasive surgery with the introduction of transurethral resection of the prostate more than 50 years ago in the United States. This could be considered the first revolution in urology and this has influenced the evolution of urology in Singapore. Transurethral surgery had proved to be far superior to open surgery for most lesions of the lower urinary tract. This technique was introduced to Singapore in the early 1970s by Dr N E Wong. Because of the need for special instruments, skill and training, there was a need for a Department of Urology. This was not to be until after the second revolution in urology. The second revolution saw the introduction of endoscopic surgery of the upper urinary tract and Extra-corporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy in the early 1980s. This had truly revolutionised the treatment of urinary stones and today almost 95% of patients can be treated with these non to minimally invasive techniques. These new modalities of treatment were rapidly introduced in Singapore in the mid 1980s. The need for the establishment of urology as a specialty was more urgently felt. The Singapore Urological Association was formed in February 1986 and in March 1987, a Division of Urology was formed at the Singapore General Hospital.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)