Areas of expertise

Matthew Bultitude is a general urologist with a specialist interest in the surgical and medical management of kidney stones. Thus patients consult him with a wide range of problems including:

  • Known kidney stones

  • Pain in the loin or groin (for diagnosis of kidney stones)

  • Upper tract TCC (UTUC)

  • Haematuria (blood in the urine)

  • Urinary tract infections

  • Urinary symptoms e.g. slow flow, burning, frequency

  • Testicular lumps

  • Testicular pain

  • Foreskin problems

However his subspecialist interest is in kidney stones and so patients frequently see him with symptoms of stones or with a known diagnosis of kidney stones to discuss treatment or prevention. He offers the full range of stone treatments:

  1. Shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) - for this patients are typically awake and shockwaves are focussed on the stone to fragment it

  2. Rigid ureteroscopy - this is used for stones in the ureter to fragment and remove the stone

  3. Flexible ureteroscopy - this is a flexible instrument and is used to access and remove stones from all parts of the kidney

  4. Laser stone fragmentation - this is done using the Holmium laser with either rigid or flexible ureteroscopy

  5. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) - this is used for larger stones in the kidney with direct access through a small whole in the skin and enables fragmentation and complete removal of larger stones.

However it is also important to remember about stone prevention and Matthew Bultitude has a special interest in this area and all patients undergo appropriate metabolic testing for kidney stones with personalised advice for the prevention of stones. In some situations patients are referred on to see a nephrologist or a dietician if this is required.

He also has a specialist practice in the diagnosis and endoscopic management of upper tract TCC (UTUC). This is a rare for of cancer that affects the inner lining of the kidneys and ureter pipes. He utilises his expertise in ureteroscopy to access these areas for biopsy for diagnosis and where appropriate laser ablation of these tumours. This is done in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team approach to optimise care for these patients.

Other procedures offered:

  • Cystoscopy

  • Bladder Neck Incision (BNI)

  • Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)

  • Circumcision

  • Hydrocele removal

  • Epididymal cyst excision

  • Bladder stone removal