How long does the urinary catheter remain in place after radical prostatectomy?
Historically, the catheter was left indwelling for a minimum of three weeks. Smilow Center surgeons have pioneered early catheter removal as a way to facilitate recovery from prostate surgery. Smilow center surgeons were the first to publish an article demonstrating both the inconvenience of the urinary catheter and how a urinary catheter impedes return to work and activities (Lepor H, Nieder AM, Fraiman MC. Urol. 58(3):425-9 (2001); Sultan R, Slova D, Thiel B, Lepor H. J Urol. 176(4 Pt 1):1420-3 (2006)). The initial studies performed by Smilow Center surgeons demonstrated that the urinary catheter can be safely removed if there is no evidence of leakage at the vesicourethral anastomosis (the point where the bladder and urethra have been surgically attached). Encouraged by these studies, Smilow Center surgeons then investigated if it was feasible to remove the catheter as early as postoperative day 3. While the anastomosis had healed in 80% of these cases, over 20% of men developed acu
Related Questions
- If I have urinary symptoms due to a benign prostate, will the symptoms become better or worse following radical prostatectomy?
- Does Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy require a catheter, drain, dressings, or stitches?
- Does radical prostatectomy have an effect on pre-existing lower urinary tract symptoms?
