Catheter removal

As with everything else when it comes to us, we can't get a straight answer.

Your catheter will be removed by the clinic nurse at Urology Care Wellington 7-14 days after surgery. This is straightforward. You will be given an antibiotic tablet at the time of catheter removal. Afterward, you will be monitored by the nurse to make sure that you are able to pass urine. She will check your wounds are healing and will discuss the use of pads and pelvic floor exercises.

You will have a urinary catheter which is a tube draining the bladder so the bladder can rest and heal. The catheter will need to remain in place for at least one week.

The time point of removing the indwelling catheter after RARP mainly depends on institute’s/surgeon’s preferences. Removal should be late enough to avoid urinary leakage and complications such as acute urinary retention (AUR) but early enough to avoid unnecessary catheter indwelling.

The ideal time of catheter removal after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is still controversially discussed. Timing of catheter removal shows a wide range, according to institute’s/surgeon’s preferences.

In summary, the timing of catheter removal following RARP should aim to strike an appropriate balance between (I) allowing the urethrovesical anastomosis adequate time to heal and (II) mitigating negative effects of catheterization including patient discomfort. Ultimately, the urology community will find the timeframe for urethral catheterization after RARP that is “just right”. For now, in our practice, we will continue to remove catheters on postoperative day 7, and have done so for close to 10,000 patients without incident.

So it comes down to how confident they are in joining the urethra back together.
I know from watching the surgery that they fil the bladder with saline as a last stage of the op - to see if leaks.
Kinda like changing a radiator hose.

So if they're confident that it's water-tight.....
If you're really uncomfortable with the thought, doesn't hurt to ask if they can keep the catheter in for a few more days than they were planning.

One other person had mentioned that after removing the catheter, they did a test to make sure that things are still working correctly. It would be interested to hear from you what happens, What kind of test they run, if any.

My dismissal nurse was giving me instructions about bowels. “Do not strain” about lifting”Do not strain” etc etc. Bowel function returned and pain subsided. 10days later surgeons nurse removed saline water from the catheter 30cc was the magic number. I thought she was prepping me for the surgeon to remove it. Suddenly without notice she ripped it out. Surprisingly little pain and no injury.Her notes said cath removed in normal manner. Just my experience.

Well, the money from the lawsuit should make you happy🤣🤣…
Just kidding - you brought up a specific concern and they addressed it - relax,
Phil

Long term catheter can lead to lots of uti's. I had catheter for 2 1/2 years. Uti every month. Then a suprapubic catheter for 13 months. If you want real pain have a sp catheter exchanged every 4 weeks. Be happy it is coming out.

I had mine done at Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston.
They told me 7 days and the catheter was removed by a nurse at my hospital in Vermont one week after surgery. I never gave it any thought. Just figured they must know what they’re doing.

I had mine out after 7 days and the removal process was "intense" but they gave me a countdown and then slowly pulled it out. I wished for something to grip but the feeling wasn't horrible just unexpected and uncomfortable. They gave me some time to recover and then I was okay.

Hi I’m an RN and have the cancer. You are completely sutured where the gap was closed. Some is for patient comfort as it would burn.
Also, decrease your risk of a UTI by length of time. So, I’m sure it’s not their first rodeo and there is clinical science and best practice will always prevail.

I had mine for 7 days and was fine. Trust your doctor 😉

my doctor may be conservative but I had mine for 13 days. I tend to think he was being cautious and maybe because I am 71