Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco has installed an advanced new “cystoscopy suite” which will benefit patients needing urologic surgery.

The specialized GE equipment allows urologists to “see” more clearly inside of the bladder and urethra, using a thin lighted tube.  This will benefit patients who may have cancer of the bladder or urethra.  It will also be useful in diagnosing the cause of various conditions, including for patients who have blood in the urine, pain during urination, problems passing urine, or repeated bladder infections. 

“We are proud to announce that Knapp Medical Center can now provide patients with a state-of-the-art cystoscopy suite for urologic surgery,” said Dr. James Sander, a board-certified urologist with the UT Health RGV / Knapp Family Health Center in Mercedes.   

“This includes high-definition monitors and crystal-clear X-ray images to localize and treat pathology within the urinary tract, such as kidney stones, ureteral stones or renal pelvis tumors,” Dr. Sander added.

In addition, Dr. Sander said the high-definition monitors will allow “superb visualization” when urologists need to cut out, or “resect” possible cancerous tumors in the bladder.  

This will also benefit older men who may have an enlarged prostate gland, which can cause uncomfortable urinary problems – such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder.  This condition, called obstructive benign prostate tissue, can also cause other problems with the urinary tract or kidneys.

“We offer green light laser and saline bipolar technology for treatment of benign prostate enlargement — and saline bipolar technology is also used to resect bladder tumors via a cystoscopic transurethral approach,” Dr. Sander said.

To perform that procedure, Dr. Sander uses a long, thin, flexible tube which has a cutting tool, a light, and a camera at the end of it.  The tube is passed through the patient’s urethra into the bladder, where the urologist cuts out any cancer tumors. 

Originally from Weslaco, Dr. Sander completed a urology residency at the Baylor College of Medicine.  He previously served as assistant professor of urology at Baylor Scott and White in Temple, Texas.  

 “If you have kidney stones or trouble emptying your bladder or have seen blood in your urine, please call us at 956-296-1831 to schedule a new patient visit at the UT Health RGV / Knapp Family Health Center in Mercedes,” Dr. Sander said. 

The UT Health RGV / Knapp Family Health Center is conveniently located right off the Expressway between Mercedes and Weslaco, at the N. Mile 2 West Rd. exit (2810 W. Expressway 83, Mercedes 78570, across the street from “Med High”). The center accepts most insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid.    

Dr. James Sander, a board-certified urologist with the UT Health RGV / Knapp Family Health Center in Mercedes, shows a new state-of-the-art cystoscopy suite for urologic surgery at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco.