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RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY 

POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

Upon discharge from the hospital after your radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, you will have a catheter draining to a leg bag during the daytime and a large bedside bag at night.

Although it is not required that you change from one type of bag to the other, you may find it more convenient to have the larger drainage bag used at night. If you elect not to change the bag when retiring in the evening, make sure that your leg bag is completely drained so that there will be room within to accept the urinary drainage during the night. Always make sure that the leg bag is connected in the correct fashion and that it is attached to your leg so that there is no tension on the catheter when you walk.

You may bathe or shower patting dry your wound with a clean terry cloth towel. Your drain site (hole through the lower abdominal skin where a drain exited for a few days after surgery) can be managed by a simple "bandaid" dressing until it is completely "scabbed over".

While the catheter is in, be sure to drink adequate fluids. If blood should appear in your urine, increase your fluids to dilute the color of your urine and help prevent clotting which may obstruct your catheter. If blood does appear in your catheter, decrease your physical activity and increase your drinking. If the blood should become thick like tomato soup or clot the tubing so that there is not drainage, contact our office.

You should secure an appointment to come to the office approximately one week after your surgery for removal of your skin staples. Removal of the skin staples is performed with a device, which reduces the pain associated with their removal. The wound will be cleaned and dressed with small pieces of tape called "steri-strips" which will begin to curl off after 3-4 days of wear. You may continue to shower and bathe with the steri-strips on; however, once again, take care while drying so that you do not prematurely remove them.

When you come for your staple removal, an appointment will be given to you for your catheter removal. The removal of the catheter will be performed by deflation of a water balloon and slipping the catheter out. There is not a lot of pain associated with removal of the catheter. Please ask for a prescription for antibiotics to begin the day your foley catheter is removed, if you have not already been provided with that prescription.

 Upon discharge from the hospital you should have a prescription for pain medication.

During your postoperative period, that is the next 3-6 weeks, you should avoid any heavy lifting or straining. Your exercise should be limited to short walks on level ground. You may climb stairs, but do not carry anything up the stairs with you.

 Whether or not you drive a car will depend on your physical stamina and use of narcotic pain medication. Your return to work date is best established by you, since you are aware of the demands of your job and your postoperative stamina.

If you should have any postoperative questions that cannot be saved for your appointments, please try to call between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  Please avoid calling after hours unless it is for emergency purposes so that we can more efficiently help you recover from your operation.

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