The standard of care for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer is radical cystectomy, the surgical removal of the bladder. However, this is a major operation, with a significant risk of complications and potentially, even death.
Risks of bladder surgery are like those with any major surgery: Reactions to anesthesia. Bleeding from the surgery. Blood clots in the legs or lungs.
Many people can return to work or their usual activities 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. But you will probably need 6 to 8 weeks to fully recover from the surgery. Bladder cancer surgery may affect sexual function.
Bladder removal is a major surgery. This surgery can take anywhere between four and six hours, depending upon your prior surgical history, or maybe other intra-operative findings that we find during the operation.
If you have an open procedure, you'll likely be in the hospital for 5 to 7 days. With a minimally invasive procedure, your recovery time in the hospital may be shorter.
Bladder sling surgery can cause mild to moderate pain, soreness, and general discomfort. In most cases, the pain is temporary and subsides over time. It may last a few days or, in some cases, a few weeks. The severity and duration of the pain can vary from person to person.
It is very important that you avoid anything that will stress or strain your incision. Every day activities like lifting groceries and toileting can cause problems. They can put undue stress on your bladder repair and potentially weaken it.
The procedure
you're given an injection of general anaesthetic (which makes you fall asleep) into your hand, or a spinal anaesthetic (which numbs the lower half of your body) into your lower back.
You healthcare provider may also start you on medication to relax your urethra to make it easier for your bladder to empty. This medication, called an alpha blocker, is often given to men to relax their prostates. It can also be given for a short time period to men and women to help them urinate after surgery.
The aim of the surgery is to relieve the symptoms of vaginal bulging/ laxity and to improve bladder function, without interfering with sexual function. Success rates for anterior repair are 70-90%, however there is a chance that the prolapse may recur or another part of the vaginal wall may prolapse.
After surgery, your caregivers will frequently ask whether you have passed gas. This is because passing gas is a sign that your bowels are returning to normal. You may not have a bowel movement for four to five days following surgery.
It's not unusual for your weight to change during your hospital stay and first few weeks at home. There will be some muscle and fat weight loss, but there could be some weight gain through fluid retention. The excess fluid will gradually be cleared by the kidneys.
Try to eat small, frequent meals. Unlike high impact activities, you may walk as much as much as you would like after surgery. Walking will not hurt your surgical repair or interfere with your recovery in any way. You may climb stairs once you feel strong enough to do so.
You are at risk of getting an infection after an operation. This includes a wound, chest or urine infection. You will have antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing an infection after surgery. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any symptoms of infection.
It is ok to drive 24-48 hours after having surgery if you are not taking pain medication and are not in any significant pain. You can return to work (as long as it does not involve lifting or straining) as soon as you feel ready-usually within two weeks.
You may feel the need to urinate frequently for a while after the surgery, but this should improve with time. It may burn when you urinate. Drink lots of fluids to help with the burning. Your urine also may look pink for up to 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.
Sleeping on your back
One of the best sleeping position after going through any surgery is resting straight on your back.
You can usually shower 48 hours after surgery.
After the cystoscopy, your urethra may be sore at first, and it may burn when you urinate for the first few days after the procedure. You may feel the need to urinate more often, and your urine may be pink. These symptoms should get better in 1 or 2 days.
You may need to go home with a catheter in your bladder after surgery. Usually, you will need to wear the catheter for several days to several weeks while your bladder recovers.
You might be in hospital for between 5 and 14 nights. After surgery to remove your bladder, you need another way to collect and pass your urine. Doctors call this urinary diversion.
Pain after bladder surgery is typically controlled with narcotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, acetaminophen, regional anesthesia (caudal or epidural) and/or bladder muscle (detrusor) antispasmodic medication.
Don't eat high-fat foods, fried and greasy foods, and fatty sauces and gravies for at least a week after surgery. Instead, choose fat-free or low-fat foods. Low-fat foods are those with no more than 3 grams of fat in a serving.
Avoid bending over at the waist without bending your knees If you need to reach something on the floor, you should either sit down and scoop it up or bend at the knees to pick it up. This is also a good general practice for avoiding injury to your back. regular business hours.
Most people regain control in the weeks after we remove the catheter. The vast majority of men who had normal urinary control before the procedure achieve it again within 3 to 18 months after the surgery.