Discharge Home • You will be going home with an indwelling urinary

catheter as explained by your surgeon. The removal date for the catheter will be arranged by your surgeon.

• The discharging nurse will make sure to provide you and your family with education on how to care for your catheter using a leg bag (fits under pants) and night bag (larger for overnight collection) prior to your leaving the hospital. You will also be given enough supplies to care for the catheter at home until your follow-up appointment.

• Your incisions typically have a glue-like bandage on them and absorbing sutures. You will be instructed on how to care for incisions until they are fully healed.

• Your surgeon will prescribe and instruct you on the use of pain medication if needed.

• An appointment will be made for follow-up with your surgeon to discuss the pathology results from your surgery.

• You will also be provided with a direct telephone number to the hospital. You can utilize this number if you have any basic questions about your condition or discharge. Of course, any concerns about your condition should be made to the surgeon’s office.

SaintAnnesHospital.org

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Understanding Your Surgery

ROBOTIC-ASSISTED PROSTATECTOMY

INTERPRETER SERVICES AVAILABLE Portuguese - Português Fala Português? Vamos oferecer-lhe um intérprete gratuito.

Spanish - Español ¿Habla español? Le proporcionaremos un intérprete sin costo alguno para usted.

Steward Health Care complies with applicable Federal and State civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age.

795 Middle Street, Fall River, MA 02721 SaintAnnesHospital.org

Understanding Prostatectomy

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men in the United States. About one in every 41 men will die of prostate cancer. However, with early detection and proper medical care, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. Prostatectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the prostate. According to the American Urological Association’s Guidelines for Clinical Management of Prostate Cancer, the major benefit of prostatectomy is a cure in patients whose prostate cancer is truly localized.

Types of Surgery: A prostatectomy can be performed by your surgeon with an open surgery or minimally invasive surgery including robotic-assisted laparoscopic.Open Surgery: Surgery is done through one large incision/cut in the abdomen which allows doctors to touch your organs as they operate.Minimally Invasive Surgery: Robotic-assisted surgery and/or traditional laparoscopic surgery are considered minimally invasive. In traditional laparoscopic procedures, a surgeon operates through a few small incisions using long instruments and a tiny camera to guide them during surgery.

Robotic-assisted da Vinci surgery provides your surgeon: • Enhanced vision, precision, and control from: * 3-D (three dimensional) camera vision system

that magnifies the surgeon’s views inside the body

* Tiny instruments directed and controlled by the surgeon that bend and rotate far greater than the human hand

Benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, compared to open surgery: • Lower risk of surgical site infection• Less blood loss or need for a transfusion• Fewer complications• Shorter hospital stay• Fewer days with catheter• Less chance of hospital readmissionIf you are a candidate for this procedure, your surgeon will review with you the risks associated with this surgery.

Preparing for Your Surgery What you need to do to prior to the date of surgery

Pre-Admission Testing and Interview • Every patient who is having surgery will have a

pre-admission interview.• You should be prepared to discuss your allergies,

past medical history, and the medications you are currently taking.

• The Pre-Admission team member will review your pre-operative instructions regarding your medications and fasting status (eating and drinking) per anesthesia recommendations.

• You will be instructed about your arrival time and surgery time via a telephone call the night prior to surgery.

Morning of Surgery • You will arrive at Saint Anne’s Hospital at the arrival

time provided to you the night before. This will be from one and one-half to two hours prior to the start of your actual surgery to prepare you for your surgery.

• Upon arrival and entering the hospital on the ground floor:

* Please take C elevator(s) to the first floor and enter the Day Surgery Center waiting room directly opposite the C elevators.

* Please register at the registration window.• A nurse will bring you into the surgery center and

prepare you for surgery. This will include: * A review of your allergies, medical history, and

medications * A nurse will insert an intravenous (IV) for fluids given

before, during and after surgery. * You will meet your anesthesia provider and review

your plan for anesthesia.

Immediately After Surgery • When your surgery is completed, you will be brought

to our Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).• Your PACU nurse, in collaboration with the anesthe-

siologist, will manage your post-operative care, including helping to manage pain and discomfort.

• Once you have recovered from anesthesia, you will be transferred to your private room on the inpatient surgical unit.

Hospital Stay on Surgical Unit • Your admission nurse will help you get settled into

your family-friendly private room. • Each shift, a registered nurse and a certified nursing

assistant will be assigned to care for you. The nurse will be assessing your pain, pulse and blood pressure, breath sounds, bowel function, and incision on an ongoing basis. Your nurse will coordinate your care with the rest of your health care team and will be your partner in recovery.

• When your assigned nurse is finishing their shift, they will review your care needs at your bedside with your input and the nurse assigned for the next shift. We welcome patients and family members to take an active part in this “bedside shift report.” Typically, patients are ready to be discharged to home the day following surgery.

At Saint Anne’s Hospital All private patient rooms have a private bathroom, flat-screen TV (cable included), telephone, and courtesy WiFi. Most rooms are furnished with a recliner chair and a guest couch that can convert into a bed to accommodate an overnight guest.