Specialist Urological Oncologist - Robotic Surgery

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Kidney Cancer

Urothelial Cancer

Kidney Stones

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Specialist in Robotic Surgery

Robotic Surgery is a cutting-edge surgical technique that has many advantages for patients, in that very complex and difficult operations can be performed through very small incisions. This has the advantage of a quicker and less painful recovery from surgery, smaller less visible scars and a quicker return to work, activity and family life.

Robotic surgery is a type of keyhole surgery in which small surgical instruments are passed into the body by the surgeon, and then a machine (the robot) is connected to the instruments. The surgeon then sits at a console and controls the instruments with his/her hands, and the view that the surgeon sees is 3-dimensional and magnified (features that improve your view and precision). A surgeon who uses the robotic platform, is only as good as their training, experience and the volume of cases that they do on a regular basis.

I was trained in a high volume cancer centre in the USA, which consistently ranks in the top ten hospitals across the entire USA. I completed many hundreds of robotic operations there and certification was through the prestigious Endourological Society in the USA.

I offer patients robotic surgery in kidney cancer, urothelial cancer and various operations of reconstruction of kidneys if required. This type of kidney cancer surgery is particularly useful for removal of part of the kidney when a tumour is very large or complex (called a robotic partial nephrectomy).

Specialist in Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is the traditional keyhole surgery technique, which allows the surgeon operate on parts of the body through very small incisions. Laparoscopic surgery is similar to robotic surgery, and has all of the advantages of quicker recovery and less scarring. It is very useful for certain operations like removal of the whole kidney (laparoscopic nephrectomy), removal of part of the kidney (laparoscopic partial nephrectomy), reconstructions of the urinary tract (e.g. laparoscopic pyeloplasty), and some laparoscopic kidney stone operations.

Specialist Urological Oncologist

As a professional Urological Oncologist, I specialise in various cancers that affect the urinary tract, and this includes kidney cancer, urothelial cancer, bladder cancer and prostate cancer. The management of these cancers are individual to the patient, and if offered surgery I will discuss which keyhole method that is best suited to your case. This can include robotic, laparoscopic, endoscopic (where instruments are passed through the natural orifice e.g. the urethra) or percutaneously (where small incisions are made through the skin to access the kidney).

Specialist Endo Urologist

Endourology is where instruments are passed through the water passage (called the urethra) to access various parts of the urinary system. These instruments can be passed from the outside of the body (via the penis or urethra in the female) all the way into the kidney. This may be required to treat kidney stones by laser or perform biopsies to rule out cancer, or to treat certain types of cancer that can affect the urinary tract (called urothelial cancer) by laser. The benefits of endourology are that no cuts in the body are made, and recovery is quick.

Kidney stones are common and can return frequently. Many times they cause severe pain, and this results in emergency admission to hospital. There are many ways of treating kidney stones which include shock wave treatment from the outside of the body (therefore non-invasive), robotic surgery, and laser treatment (performed via instruments passed from the outside of the body through the water passage into the kidney). The advantages of shock wave treatment are that it is non-invasive and it can treat many stones very well, but the disadvantages are that large fragments can be left behind causing pain or requiring further treatment. Laser treatment is a very effective way of treating kidney stones, and has the advantage of clearing stones well and being able to get stones for analysis (so I can advise you on how to prevent), but has the disadvantage of being invasive. Although complications can occur, they are very uncommon thankfully.

Kidney stones can reoccur very commonly, therefore prevention is extremely important. I advise all patients undergo basic metabolic tests initially which include blood tests and stone analysis if possible. If a patient is high risk for stone formation, or if they wish to know more about why they have formed stones, I advise undergoing a 24-hour urine collection and I use the Litholink company to evaluate (https://www.litholink.com).

Appointments and Affiliations

I have had kidney stone episodes for twenty years which were becoming more frequent and becoming annual events which required hospital procedures, living with stents and recovering which would floor me for 4-6 weeks, this was really starting to impact my life. There were stones in both kidneys that I had been told could not been removed easily and I would have to wait for them to come out in future and deal with them then. In one single procedure, Barry removed all of these stones and in my follow up appointment six months later, I am still stone free on a scan for the first time. I am very grateful to be under Barry's care and I no longer worry that at any time I will land in A&E and possible procedures and being laid up for weeks recovering. It was obvious I came to the right place the first time I met Barry, he is empathetic, caring and has a holistic approach to ongoing prevention and management of kidney stones. I have never felt like someone was working with me to prevent these in future and I even if I do develop more and confident of a speedy resolution to deal with them at once. For the first time in years, I am not worrying about when the next episode will be, this has given me and my wife such comfort looking ahead and I am very confident moving forward with Barry and Niamh, everything is so human and caring. It really was an exceptional experience from the start. If you have suffered with chronic kidney stones, I cannot recommend Barry enough..
Having a complex and colourful medical history, to say I was anxious about the potential risks of partial nephrectomy is an understatement! Knowing that the least invasive option would give me the best chance for recovery, I actively sought out Mr. Barry McGuire and the ingenuity of robotic surgery! My experience has been an altogether positive one. Barry is not only an expert in his field with an affable and empathetic manner that immediately put me at ease; what sets him apart is that he goes above and beyond on a patient interaction level that I've never encountered before (his highly informative website and the phone calls he personally made to me before admission and after discharge are just two examples of the value he places on a well-informed patient). I am extremely grateful to Barry and his excellent team for the care and compassion I received before, during and after surgery. The procedure went without incident and my recovery was faster and much less painful than I anticipated - I couldn't have asked for a better outcome. For anyone finding themselves in a similar position, I couldn't recommend Mr. Barry McGuire and his Da Vinci robot more highly
Mr Barry McGuire treated me for a kidney tumour in summer 2018. He put me at ease and explained my options clearly. He and his team were excellent before, during and after surgery. He is a Gentleman and I highly recommend his practice..ie)
Please accept my most grateful thank you, for your excellent and professional Service. Barry put me at total ease, and returned me to full health at very short notice, without which I was prevented from operating in my profession. A big thank you to Niamh for her kind and supportive help in person and by phone. Without hesitation you have my full endorsement for your skill and the professional team at St. Vincents Private Hospital..ie)
As I said to Niamh, you guys are the epitome of empathy and excellence.Now in my 80s as you know, and due to your unassuming genius in dealing with my cancer,I am able to live a very full life.My wife also hugely appreciates the fact that as soon as you had completed operating on my kidney etc.you immediately telephoned her with the good news.
I have spent in excess of 20 years in hospitals with my Dad as he battles one cancer after another and I can say with integrity, that Barry Mc Guire ( and equally his secretary, Niamh Vaughan) are in a league of their own. Skilled expertise and excellence are a given with both but the approachable, personable and earnest commitment to their patients set them apart!
All too often “ genius” excuses the lack of a bedside manner but Barry is the best at what he does AND he is never patronising, always makes time and is incredibly good at communicating exactly what the situation is. Cancer isn’t fun for anyone but if you have to face it, then having a team who are amazing at what they do and do so with empathy makes such a massive difference.
Thank you Barry and Niamh.
We have never met but I am the mother of …I have to thank you for all the care and attention you gave him during a very difficult period for us all. I appreciated you coming to… to carry out the procedure which was a very long one. Thank you. He is having a scan as I write this, and I hope all is going to be fine. Thank you again for your skill and time. Best wishes for 2016.
Dear Barry, Just a quick note to thank you for your thoroughly professional and unfailingly affable treatment of me last week. It was almost a pleasure to be opened up by someone so good at what they do. See you soon. Best wishes.
Thank you so much for getting me on the road to recovery. your care and kindness was very much appreciated
Had TURP...I just had my first wee and it was amazing, the volume and flow speed was in incredible, full void too.......so glad I followed your advice, thank you so much.
Your skill as a surgeon has had unexpected benefits. I have returned to tennis and won a competition played over 10 weeks for social players. I won this previously, 12 years ago. That this minor success should have been possible only 6 months after my surgery is encouraging to me and may serve as an encouragement to others who are about to meet the robot!