If you have had a robotic prostatectomy, it is essential for you
your own safety and
for the success of your surgery that you carefully read and
follow these instructions.
Postoperative Instructions
While robotic prostatectomy is performed routinely, it is still
a relatively major
surgery, which will require some time and effort to recover.
Life will be harder for at
least a few weeks, if not months after surgery. However, it is
certainly preferable to
the life-threatening hardships of letting the cancer progress
unchecked. Be positive,
you can get through this!
Leaving the Hospital
Patients will generally be discharged from the hospital about 24
hours after surgery.
Each patient will leave the hospital with a urinary catheter in
place. This catheter is
known as a Foley catheter and is held in place by a balloon
inside the bladder. It
allows continuous drainage of the bladder into a small external
collection bag, which
is emptied as needed. Do not try to remove this catheter on
your own. It must
remain in place until you have healed enough that it is no
longer needed. Read further
down in these instructions for more information.
A drain is placed at the time of surgery to remove fluids from
the operative field. It is
usually removed the next day prior to discharge but may be left
in place when you are
sent home. You will be taught how to empty the drain bulb and
record the output.
Once the drainage decreases to an acceptable level (usually less
than 100 cc. per day) the drain will be removed. Excessive
drainage may require the Foley catheter to
remain longer than the usual seven days.
Since you will not be allowed to drive yourself, you will need
someone to drive you
home.
Postoperative Instructions
