Patient education: Surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia? — The prostate is a gland that surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out through the penis) (figure 1). This gland often gets bigger as a person gets older.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or "BPH," is the medical term for an enlarged prostate. BPH is a common problem.

How is BPH treated? — Surgery is 1 option to treat BPH. There are several procedures used for this:

●In some cases, the doctor will do an "open" surgery. This involves making a cut in the skin to remove part or all of the prostate.

●More commonly, doctors do something called a "transurethral" procedure. This involves inserting a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end into the urethra. This is called a "scope." Then, the doctor uses special tools to treat the enlarged prostate (figure 2).

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

For the first 24 hours after surgery:

●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery.

●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.

●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.

You should also:

●Drink plenty of water, especially if your urine looks red or you pass small blood clots. It is normal for your urine to have a small amount of blood in it right after surgery.

●Take all of your medicines as instructed.

●Take care of the catheter, if you have one:

•Wash your skin around the catheter with soap and water each day. Rinse well, and pat dry. Do not put lotion or cream on the tube.

•Keep the catheter secure. You can use special straps or some other device to keep the bag or catheter on your leg.

•Do not let the catheter pull or catch when you move around. Do not let the catheter or tubing kink or loop.

•Do not clamp the catheter or tubing, unless you were told to.

•Keep the urine collection bag below your bladder.

•Drain the urine collection bag often. To empty the bag:

-Wash your hands.

-Slide the drain tube out of its holder.

-Place the drain tube over the toilet or a clean container. Do not let the drain tube touch the toilet or container.

-Open the clamp or valve, and drain the urine.

-When the bag is empty, close the clamp or valve and place it back in the holder.

-Wash your hands.

●Increase your activity slowly – Start with short walks around your home, and walk a little more each day.

•Avoid heavy lifting and sports for at least a week or 2. (Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to avoid these or other activities.)

●Try to avoid constipation. Eat foods that have a lot of fiber. Drink plenty of water and other fluids.

●Use a stool softener to help prevent constipation, if needed. This is a common problem if you take opioid pain medicines. Follow all instructions for taking your pain medicines.

What follow-up care do I need? — The doctor will want to see you again after surgery to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.

If you have a catheter, the doctor will usually want to remove it in 1 to 7 days. Do not try to remove it yourself.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You are not able to urinate, and your bladder feels full.

●You have pain or burning when you urinate that lasts for more than a few days.

●You have large blood clots (the size of a quarter or bigger) in your urine or start seeing more blood in your urine.

●Your urine is thick or cloudy, or has a bad smell.

●You have very bad belly pain that is not helped by pain relievers.

More on this topic

Patient education: Surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (The Basics)
Patient education: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) (The Basics)
Patient education: Prostate cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Prostate cancer screening (PSA tests) (The Basics)
Patient education: Choosing treatment for low-risk localized prostate cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a urinary catheter (The Basics)

Patient education: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Prostate cancer screening (Beyond the Basics)