1. If I want to stay in St. Louis the night before my surgery, where should I stay?
The closest hotel to SJMMC and Missouri Baptist is the Drury Inn on Olive Blvd at I-270 (314) 99-1100. This is about 1.0 mile from the hospital. They do offer reduced rates. The closest hotel to St. Lukes is the St. Louis Marriott Hotel West at Maryville (314) 878-2747. The closest hotels to DePaul are: The Renaissance (314) 429-1100; The Marriott Airport (314) 423-9700; Clubhouse in on Craig Road (314) 205-8000; Holiday Inn on North Lindbergh (314) 731-2100. All offer discounts if the patient or family states the patient is in DePaul.
2. What about parking?
Missouri Baptist – Park in C garage – go into main entrance under the blue awning – 2nd floor is surgical check in. St Luke’s – Park in West garage – 2nd floor of west medical building – is surgical check in. St John’s – Park in Muckermann Garage – Surgery registration is across the street. DePaul – Park in lot 1 or 2 enter medical building by either area – When entering medical building will be in an atrium with a waterfall walk past waterfall into the South medical building – take elevators to 2nd floor make a left and enter into surgery check in and family waiting room.
3. Where do I go on the morning of my surgery?
You should go to the front desk of the Surgery Center on the morning of your surgery, and they will admit you to either a room or holding area to be prepared for surgery.
4. Where does my family go?
Your family should go to the designated surgery waiting room, usually the in-patient waiting room. Your surgeon or a member of the surgical team will meet with your family following surgery.
5. What should I wear?
You should wear loose clothing and slip-on shoes the day of admission to the hospital and especially when you are discharged from the hospital to go home.
6. Can I take medications before surgery?
You should not have anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery. On some occasions, patients are advised that they may take their blood pressure medicine or certain thyroid medicines with a sip of water, but unless you are advised that this is acceptable, do not take anything after midnight the night before your surgery. You also should stop taking aspirin, Vitamin E, and blood thinners as instructed by your physician. Please note that these should be discontinued at specified times prior to your surgical date. Some medicines need to be stopped at least two weeks prior to surgery. This needs to be discussed specifically between each physician and patient.
7. How long can I plan on being in the hospital?
Normally, you will be able to go home the next day.
8. Will I be given written post-op instructions?
There are discharge nurses at the hospital who will give you postoperative instructions for you to take home, along with your prescriptions.
9. When do the stitches come out?
Most patients with this procedure have stitches which are on the inside. They will dissolve on their own. There is also Dermabond over your incisions, which is like sterile superglue.
10. How long does the operation take?
The procedure usually takes two to three hours.
11. When will I go home from the hospital?
The morning following surgery, and you will go home with a catheter in place.
12. When will the catheter be removed?
You will return to your surgeon’s office in about one week after surgery.
13. Will I need to donate my own blood for this type of surgery?
No. One of the many benefits of the robotic surgery is minimal loss of blood. Therefore, it is not necessary to have your blood available for transfusion. However, if you wish to donate blood, please feel free to discuss this with your surgeon.
14. How much pain will I have?
The operation is not painless, but it is in fact much less painful than the open surgery. You may experience some shoulder pain after surgery because of the abdominal gas insufflations, which will decrease after the first day. You will be able to go home with oral pain killers. Some patients have a vague discomfort of the abdomen. Some patients may have temporary swelling and bruising of the scrotum, but that usually subsides within a couple of weeks. It is also okay to take Tylenol or Ibuprofen as needed.
15. Does the robotic surgery require general anesthesia
Yes, general anesthesia is required. Robotic prostatectomy offers many advantages compared to conventional open surgery, but it is nevertheless a major operation
16. How soon can I bathe after the surgery?
You may shower after you get home, but bathing in the tub is not recommended for the first four weeks. Treat the incision sites carefully and dry them by patting, rather than rubbing.
17. If I live a long distance from St. Louis, how soon can I go home after the surgery?
You can go home the day of discharge.
18. Do some patients require radiation therapy after the surgery?
Yes, if there is evidence of more extensive cancer found outside the prostate or a postoperative rise in the PSA on follow-up, then radiation may be required.
19. How experienced are the surgeons at Metropolitan Urological Specialists in performing the robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy procedure?
Metro Urology has performed over 800 prostatectomy’s and is recognized for their expertise in robotic surgery.
20. Are you a veteran of U.S. military service and did you serve in Vietnam or were you exposed to Agent Orange elsewhere?
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and were exposed to Agent Orange, the prostate cancer is considered a ”presumptive” service-connected disability by the Veterans Administration. A copy of your DD214 and a copy of your medical diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer is all that’s required to permit you to obtain service-connected disability benefits (to which you are entitled) from the Veterans Administration.
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