Download Prostatectomy Discharge Instructions Patient Education

Prostatectomy Discharge Instructions
Patient Education
• Follow up at Clinic 2B on _________________
at ______ a.m./p.m. for foley catheter removal.
Call 801-587-43____ if you need to reschedule.
• Follow up with your local urologist to have the Foley
catheter removed two weeks after surgery. Please call
to schedule this appointment.
• Follow up at Clinic 2B on __________________
at _______ a.m./p.m. to get a PSA blood test. Call
801-587-43____ if you need to reschedule.
How to Contact the Urology Clinic
During business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30
p.m.) call the Urology Clinic at 801-585-0250. After
hours or on weekends or holidays, call the University
Hospital operator at 801-581-2121 and ask for the
urologist on call.
Call right away if you have any of these symptoms:
• Abdominal pain
• Bleeding
• Chest pain
• Fever of 101 degrees F or higher
• Nausea or vomiting
• Passing blood clots in urine
• Passing urine that looks like diluted ketchup
• Severe or uncontrolled pain
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in arms or legs
Diet: Stay hydrated with clear fluids rather than eating
solid food until your bowel function and appetite return
to normal. Once that happens, follow a regular diet.
Incision care: Do not soak incision under water for
two weeks. You may shower starting the second day
after surgery. Steristrips will fall off on their own. If
you have any other dressings in place, remove them
on the second day after surgery.
Activity: No strenuous activity or lifting greater than 10
pounds for six weeks. Walking and climbing stairs are
okay. Take several small walks each day. It is important
to stand up and walk every one to two hours. This will
help prevent blood clots in the legs. Stop any sexual
activity until after you follow up with your doctor.
Foley catheter care: The Foley catheter is the tube that
drains and collects urine.
• The catheter should have a curl in it and not be
pulling on the penis. This is called “off tension.” A
leg strap keeps the catheter in place so it doesn’t get
tugged on and pulled out.
• Keep the drainage bag lower than the bladder. This
allows gravity to drain the urine downward.
• The catheter should not be removed until 10-14 days
after surgery. Only a urologist should remove it.
• Clean the catheter with soapy water once a day and
apply either bacitracin ointment or vaseline to the
tip of the penis as needed for comfort.
• If you are uncircumcised, remember to pull the
foreskin back over the head or tip of your penis.
Pain Management: Take Tylenol® (acetaminophen) on
a regular schedule to control your pain. Use oxycodone/
dilaudid for breakthrough pain. Do not take Tylenol
in addition to Norco® or Percocet®, which also contain
acetaminophen. Do not exceed 4000 mg of Tylenol in
a 24-hour period.
Expect to need pain medications for at least several days
after surgery. Pain medications can cause constipation.
After several days, start taking the pain medications less
frequently until you are off them completely. You must
be off pain medications before you can resume driving.
Other Medications
• You may restart your normal medications after
you go home.
• If you take a blood thinner such as aspirin,
Coumadin®, or Plavix®, talk with your urologist
before restarting it.
For more patient education information, call 1-888-424-2100 toll free or go to www.huntsmancancer.org
Produced by HCI © 2014 • Approved by a team of medical, health, and communications specialists • February 2014 • Review Date February 2017
Constipation: Constipation after surgery can lead to
bleeding and other complications. It is important to
take a stool softener/laxative (such as Docusate Sodium
and Senna) each day to prevent constipation. Keep
taking it until bowel function is regular and you are off
pain medications.
You may take additional laxatives such as Miralax® or
Milk of Magnesia as needed. These are available over the
counter. Please talk with your health care team before
using a suppository.
For More Information
The G. Mitchell Morris Cancer Learning Center (CLC)
is your source for expert cancer information. The CLC
offers four easy ways to get cancer-related information:
• Call toll free 1-888-424-2100
• Visit the sixth floor of the cancer hospital
• E-mail [email protected]
• Text “askhci” to 66746
Bladder Spasms: Bladder spasms can happen
after surgery. They are not dangerous but may be
uncomfortable. These are signs of bladder spasms:
• Lower abdominal cramping pain
• A sudden or constant need to urinate despite the
catheter draining urine
• Pain at the tip of the penis
Take Ditropan® (oxybutynin) as needed for bladder
spasms. Oxybutynin is for your comfort and to help
prevent leakage of urine if the spasms are severe. The
medicine can cause constipation and dry mouth.
Antibiotics: An antibiotic has been prescribed to
help prevent a bladder infection when the catheter is
removed. You should take it for three days, starting the
day before your foley catheter is removed. Take it as
instructed and complete the entire prescribed course.
Prostatectomy Discharge Instructions Patient Education - Page 2