WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about suprapubic prostatectomy? Suprapubic prostatectomy is surgery to remove part or all of your prostate gland. Your prostate gland is found below your bladder and surrounds the top of your urethra. Your urethra is a tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. You may need suprapubic prostatectomy if you have an enlarged prostate. How do I prepare for surgery? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your surgery. What will happen during surgery? Your surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen below your belly button. He will remove part or all of your prostate. A suprapubic catheter may be placed into your bladder through the cut in your abdomen to drain your urine. A drain may be placed near your bladder to remove extra blood and fluid. Your surgeon will use stitches or staples to close your incision. What are the risks of surgery? You may bleed more than expected or get an infection. Your bladder, urethra, penis, or nearby tissues may be damaged. Your urethra may become narrow and block the flow of urine. The muscle at the base of your bladder may shorten and cause you to leak urine. Urine may leak inside your body and collect in nearby areas, such as your scrotum. Your kidneys may stop working properly. You may get a blood clot in your leg. This may become life-threatening. |