What’s the difference between nephrologists and urologists?
Both are hospital based doctors who are experts on kidney disease. There is some overlap in their work. But there are quite a few differences as well.
Nephrologists
Nephrologists are not surgeons and don’t do operations. They experts in the medical (i.e. non surgical) treatment of kidney diseases, including:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) – diagnosing and slowing the progression of CKD
- Acute kidney injury (AKI) – rapid onset kidney failure. These patients are usually unwell and in hospital
- Nephrotic syndrome – and other diseases of the immune system
- High blood pressure
- Organising dialysis and kidney transplants. They don’t do the transplants. They are done by transplant surgeons but nephrologists are heavily involved with preparing people with advanced CKD for a transplant, and transplant care immediately after the operation
- Long-term monitoring – of patients on dialysis or with a kidney transplant.
Most hospitals do not have a team of nephrologists partly because the diseases they deal with are rare. They tend to work in the larger teaching hospitals, but often do clinics in local hospitals where you can see them.
There is a lot of overlap between CKD and heart disease and diabetes. So nephrologists work closely with heart and diabetic specialist doctors (called cardiologists and diabetologists).
Urologists
Whereas, urologists are surgeons and do operations. They are experts in the surgical treatment of kidney diseases, including:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Kidney stones
- Bladder and prostate problems – including problems with urination (passing wee)
- Congenital urinary abnormalities – i.e. from birth
- Erectile dysfunction
- Kidney, prostate, bladder, testicular, penile cancer – hence they work a lot with cancer specialists (oncologists).
Most hospitals have a team of urologists partly because the diseases they deal with are common. Urologists do not normally do kidney transplants.
In the bigger teaching hospitals where they work together, there are close relationships between the two types of doctor who really try to help each other (and therefore, you).
Summary
We have described what’s the difference between nephrologists and urologists? We hope it has been helpful.
Other resource
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAzqq3ByEE4
Last Reviewed on 30 April 2024