Surgical Care

When your urinary issues require surgery, DMC Urology has the expertise and compassionate care you look for in a hospital. Different surgeries can mean different lengths of stay in the hospital, such as a couple days as an inpatient or a few hours as an outpatient. We are leaders in minimally invasive care, meaning you spend less time in the hospital and are back to your favorite activities quicker.

Inpatient Surgical Information
Outpatient Surgical Information

Your physician should have already provided the information below, or gave you different instructions. Follow any instructions provided by your physician, even if it is different than the information below.

Call your urologist with any questions, or dial the DMC at 1-888-DMC-2500.

 

Inpatient Surgical Information

Please follow these instructions before your surgery:

• Unless you have a cardiac sent, stop taking aspirin, or other aspirin like medications such as Bufferin, Excedrin, Ecotrin and Voltaren, for one week prior to your surgery. Stop taking Plavix for one week proir to surgery. If you are taking Ibuprofen or another NSAID (Motrin or Advil, etc.), stop taking this medication three days prior to your surgery. Take Tylenol if you need pain relief during this time. If you are on Coumadin or another blood thinner, please notify us if we have not discussed this with you already.
• Do not eat any solid food (including gum, hard candy or mints) after midnight. Do not drink any carbonated beverages (soda pop) or milk products after midnight. You may drink water only and any routine medications up to three hours prior to your surgery.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easily changed. Leave all jewelry and valuables at home. Bring only necessities to the hospital (i.e., pajamas and toiletries, glasses, hearing aids, dentures).

Once you have completed the admission process, you will be escorted to the recovery room where you will change your clothing and get ready for surgery. When your surgery is completed, you will be taken to the recovery room for care by the special recovery room nurses and your anesthesiologist. When you are satisfactorily recovered, you will be taken to your room.

Accompanying family and friends should check in at the Surgery Unit Family Waiting Room, where the surgeon will find them after your procedure is complete.

Due to the wide variety of insurance coverage, the hospital is not familiar with the requirements of every patient's insurance contract. To ensure maximum coverage for your procedure, please contact your insurance company to confirm any specific requirements for coverage.

 

Outpatient Surgical Information

Please follow these instructions before your surgery:

• Unless you have a cardiac sent, stop taking aspirin, or other aspirin like medications such as Bufferin, Excedrin, Ecotrin and Voltaren, for one week prior to your surgery. Stop taking Plavix for one week proir to surgery. If you are taking Ibuprofen or another NSAID (Motrin or Advil, etc.), stop taking this medication three days prior to your surgery. Take Tylenol if you need pain relief during this time. If you are on Coumadin or another blood thinner, please notify us if we have not discussed this with you already.
• Do not eat any solid food (including gum, hard candy or mints) after midnight. Do not drink any carbonated beverages (soda pop) or milk products after midnight. You may drink water only and any routine medications up to three hours prior to your surgery.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easily changed. Leave all jewelry and valuables at home. Bring only necessities to the hospital (i.e., pajamas and toiletries, glasses, hearing aids, dentures).
• Bring along to the hospital a responsible adult companion who will remain in the hospital, be available to hospital personnel during your procedure and assist you upon discharge by driving you home and closely observing your condition.

After your surgery is completed, you will be taken to the recovery room where you will be cared for by special recovery room nurses and your anesthesiologist. When you are satisfactorily recovered, you will be assisted in preparing to go home. Your adult companion will then drive you home.

Due to the wide variety of insurance plans, the hospital and the physician's office are not familiar with the requirements of every patient's insurance coverage. However, pre-authorization for operative procedures is becoming an increasingly common requirement. To ensure coverage for this procedure, please contact your insurance company and your Primary Care Physician if necessary, to confirm their requirements for coverage. Without proper authorization, the procedure will not be covered by the insurance carrier.

If you have any questions, please call your Urologist's office.

Pre-Procedure Care

Many procedures require special preparation before surgery, such as following special diets or not taking medications. Below are some common preparations, but be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions and call their office if you have any questions.

Clear Liquid Diet

Allowed:

 

• Water
• Carbonated beverages (soda pop)
• Jell-O (no fruit added)
• Clear soup (bouillon, chicken or beef broth)
• Coffee and tea (without cream or milk added)
• Kool-aid
• Grape, apple or cranberry juice
• Lemon drops or other hard candy
• Sugar or sugar substitute
• Popsicles or Italian ice

 

Not allowed:

 

• Milk
• Alcohol
• Any fruit juice that is not clear (orange, tomato, grapefruit)
• All solid food

 

Post-Procedure Care

Caring for yourself after surgery is very important. There may be special exercises you should do to help recover more quickly. Alternatively, there may be certain restrictions on your activity designed to prevent you from injuring your surgical area. Always follow your physicians instructions and call their office when you have questions.

When to call your doctor:

 

• The incision(s) become red, swollen, opens, or there is pus-like drainage.
• The skin around your incision(s) feels warmer than elsewhere.
• There is an abnormal odor or cloudiness to your urine.
• You have nausea and vomiting.
• You cannot move your bowels.
• You have chills or temperature greater than 101 degrees F.
• You experience severe pain that is not relieved by pain medication.

 

Plantar Extension/Flexion Exercises

Begin by pointing your toes toward the bottom of the bed. Then point your toes up toward your face. Repeat this simple exercise at least 100 times an hour while awake.

Ambulation (Walking)

You will be instructed to be up and about as much as you are able to tolerate. Sitting in upright in a chair will be encouraged as well. The first few times that you get out of bed to walk around, someone will be with you to assist you and to make sure you are steady on your feet. You should then spend as much time out of bed as possible. After you are discharged from the hospital, it is very important to continue to be up as much as possible. A rule of thumb is that you should be out of bed as much or more than you are in bed.

Scrotal Support

You may experience some swelling and redness/bruising of the scrotum. This is normal. A towel roll may be placed under your scrotum to help keep the swelling down. Wear supportive underwear/briefs or an athletic support.

Bathing

You may use the shower to bathe, even if you have a catheter in place. Gently wash the incision(s) with soap and water, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry. This will be enough to keep your incision(s) clean, dry, and free of bacteria. Do not take any tub baths/soaks until your incision(s) are completely healed, usually in 3-4 weeks.

Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles that hold up the bladder and keep it closed.

The first step in doing Kegel exercises is to find the right muscles. Imagine you are trying to stop yourself from passing gas. Squeeze the muscles you would use. If you sense a pulling feeling, those are the right muscles for pelvic exercises.

Try not to squeeze other muscles at the same time. Be careful not to tighten your stomach, legs, or buttocks. Squeezing the wrong muscles can put more pressure on your bladder control muscles. Just squeeze the pelvic muscles. Don't hold your breath.

At first, find a quiet spot to practice. Your bathroom or bedroom so you can concentrate. Pull in the pelvic muscles and hold for a count of 3. Then relax for a count of 3. Repeat, but don't overdo it. Work up to 3 sets of 10 repeats. Start doing your pelvic muscle exercises lying down. This position is the easiest because the muscles do not need to work against gravity. When your muscles get stronger, do your exercises sitting or standing. Working against gravity is like adding more weight.

Be patient. Don't give up. It takes just 5 minutes a day. You may not feel your bladder control improve for 3 to 6 weeks. Still, most people do notice an improvement after a few weeks.

Some people with nerve damage cannot tell whether they are doing Kegel exercises correctly. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or nurse to examine you while you try to do them. If you are not squeezing the right muscles, you can still learn proper Kegel exercises by doing special training with biofeedback, electrical stimulation, or both.

Endurance Kegels

These exercises should be done as directed to strengthen your pelvic muscles.

1. Contract (tighten) your pelvic floor muscles and hold the contraction for 3-5 seconds. Remember to exhale while you are doing this. Relax for 3-5 seconds.
2. Contract your muscles then relax your muscles, as described above, for a total of 10 repetitions.
3. As your strength and control improve, you will be able to hold the contraction for a longer time interval. Gradually, try to work your way up to tightening your pelvic floor muscles and holding the contraction for 10 seconds followed by resting your pelvic floor muscles for 10 seconds. It may take several weeks to work up to a 10 second hold.
4. Once you are able to hold the contraction for a longer time interval, try to increase the number of repetitions from 10 to 15.

Short/Quick Kegels

Each session of Endurance Kegels should be followed by a session of Short/Quick Kegels.

1. Contract your pelvic floor muscles and hold the contraction for 1-2 seconds. Relax your pelvic floor muscles for 1-2 seconds.
2. Contract your muscles then relax your muscles, as described above, for a total of 5 repetitions.