Kara29
12-09-2005, 03:20 PM
I have complied a list of questions that you may want to ask your doctor as you consider bladder removal. I hope this helps some of you communicate with your doctor about your concerns.
These questions are general as there are many types of cystectomies, Indiana, Kock, Miami or Mitrofanoff Pouch, Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion, Neobladder to Urethra Diversion and many others.
"No matter what surgery you and your doctor dicuss ahead of time, sometimes things can change. A preferred technique may be agreed upon in advance as the 'ideal' choice, however often times a person's anatomy can prohibit the creation of the preferred continent reservoir, and there is no real way to be sure until the surgeon looks inside."
1.Which technique would you recommend under ideal conditions, how many times have you done it?
2.Explain exactly what you will be doing (Indiana, Kock, Miami or Mitrofanoff Pouch, Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion, Neobladder to Urethra Diversion)
3.How much intestine will be used?
4.What results have you had regarding continence after surgery. What about hypercontinence?
5.Can you put me in contact with other patients to talk with about the procedure? Support group? Counselling?
6.Can I donate blood in advance?
7.How long does the surgery last? How long will I be in intensive care?
8.What's the average hospital stay? What is the average recovery period?
9.How many catheters will I wake up with, and how long will they stay in. Will there be an NG tube? For how long?
10.May I have the name of the anesthesiologist? (it's a good idea to discuss things before surgery)
11.Does the hospital have an ET nurse or an experienced staff?
12.What kind of pain medication is available for me post op? How will it be administered? What kind of pain medication will I go home with? How can I counteract the side effects of pain meds? (constipation)
13.What kind of supplies will I need when I get home and where do I buy them?
14.What antibiotics will I be given?
15.What should I do for diarrhea?
16.What are some of the complications that can occur during surgery?
17.What are some complications that can occur after surgery?
18.What are some of the long-term after effects of the surgery and how would these be dealt with?
19.What are the long term effects of intestines holding urine, does the body adjust?
20.What are the long term implications for other organs, specifically kidneys?
21.What kind of help will I need upon return home (Home health aid? Visiting nurse?), and for approximately how long?
[B]22.How long will the urinary diversion continue to produce mucous?
23.Can I resume a normal lifestyle, including activities?
24.Where can I order a medic-alert bracelet? This is advised for those with internal reservoirs which need intermittent catheterization
25.Will you be doing a Urethrectomy? Taking out the Urethra? Or Leaving it in and tying it off?
26. Will I lose sexual feeling down there if you do remove the Urethra? Can you avoid the Clitoral Nerves during surgery?
27. Will the diversion be through the belly button or to the side of the abdomen?
28. What will the stoma look like?
29. Will there be leakage problems? How can they be solved?
30. Will you use my appendix for the stoma sphincter or part of the intestine?
31. Will this surgery damage my bowel or intestinal function?
32. Bowel Prep (one glass or whole gallon?)
33. Nasal Gastric Tube?
34. Jackson Pratt (do you take that out while I am awake)
35. Suprapubic (will I take that out myself or can my local urologist do it?)
36. Can the Epidural be done after they put me under? Or at least can they give me some Versed before they do it?
37. When will I be admitted to the hospital, the day of surgery or the day before?
38. Should I bring my own meds to the hospital or leave the home?
I'm sure there are more questions that we can add to these.
:smile tee
Kara
These questions are general as there are many types of cystectomies, Indiana, Kock, Miami or Mitrofanoff Pouch, Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion, Neobladder to Urethra Diversion and many others.
"No matter what surgery you and your doctor dicuss ahead of time, sometimes things can change. A preferred technique may be agreed upon in advance as the 'ideal' choice, however often times a person's anatomy can prohibit the creation of the preferred continent reservoir, and there is no real way to be sure until the surgeon looks inside."
1.Which technique would you recommend under ideal conditions, how many times have you done it?
2.Explain exactly what you will be doing (Indiana, Kock, Miami or Mitrofanoff Pouch, Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion, Neobladder to Urethra Diversion)
3.How much intestine will be used?
4.What results have you had regarding continence after surgery. What about hypercontinence?
5.Can you put me in contact with other patients to talk with about the procedure? Support group? Counselling?
6.Can I donate blood in advance?
7.How long does the surgery last? How long will I be in intensive care?
8.What's the average hospital stay? What is the average recovery period?
9.How many catheters will I wake up with, and how long will they stay in. Will there be an NG tube? For how long?
10.May I have the name of the anesthesiologist? (it's a good idea to discuss things before surgery)
11.Does the hospital have an ET nurse or an experienced staff?
12.What kind of pain medication is available for me post op? How will it be administered? What kind of pain medication will I go home with? How can I counteract the side effects of pain meds? (constipation)
13.What kind of supplies will I need when I get home and where do I buy them?
14.What antibiotics will I be given?
15.What should I do for diarrhea?
16.What are some of the complications that can occur during surgery?
17.What are some complications that can occur after surgery?
18.What are some of the long-term after effects of the surgery and how would these be dealt with?
19.What are the long term effects of intestines holding urine, does the body adjust?
20.What are the long term implications for other organs, specifically kidneys?
21.What kind of help will I need upon return home (Home health aid? Visiting nurse?), and for approximately how long?
[B]22.How long will the urinary diversion continue to produce mucous?
23.Can I resume a normal lifestyle, including activities?
24.Where can I order a medic-alert bracelet? This is advised for those with internal reservoirs which need intermittent catheterization
25.Will you be doing a Urethrectomy? Taking out the Urethra? Or Leaving it in and tying it off?
26. Will I lose sexual feeling down there if you do remove the Urethra? Can you avoid the Clitoral Nerves during surgery?
27. Will the diversion be through the belly button or to the side of the abdomen?
28. What will the stoma look like?
29. Will there be leakage problems? How can they be solved?
30. Will you use my appendix for the stoma sphincter or part of the intestine?
31. Will this surgery damage my bowel or intestinal function?
32. Bowel Prep (one glass or whole gallon?)
33. Nasal Gastric Tube?
34. Jackson Pratt (do you take that out while I am awake)
35. Suprapubic (will I take that out myself or can my local urologist do it?)
36. Can the Epidural be done after they put me under? Or at least can they give me some Versed before they do it?
37. When will I be admitted to the hospital, the day of surgery or the day before?
38. Should I bring my own meds to the hospital or leave the home?
I'm sure there are more questions that we can add to these.
:smile tee
Kara