Unusual findings while urinating post-op

dockbouy
dockbouy Member Posts: 11
in Prostate Cancer #1
Approximately 5 weeks after RP, my husband developed what appeared to be an infection. His stream had declined(shortly after removing catheter)and it burned while urinating. He visited the local urologist who had initial treated him, and was given antibiotics and something for the burning sensation. Within a day or so, he noticed something in the tip of his penis while urinating. He proceeded to dig the object out with the tip of his finger. Not only did he pull out one object, he retrieved 2 more! Each is 1/8" long and is some sort of plastic "clip". He has since been passing pieces of sutures (we think), and would like to know if anyone has experienced this strange situation. He goes back to the urologist is 2 days, and then to the surgeon June 1 for his 6 week checkup.

Comments

  • rch
    rch Member Posts: 79
    #2
    Did he have robotic or open
    Did he have robotic or open prostatectomy? In any case, 5 ws of post-op is sufficient to heal the bladder-urethral anastamosis in either case. If he does not have any urinary obstruction, fever or lower abdominal pain then you could wait for a few days to see the surgeon.The surgeon might do a cystoscopy to evaluate the anastamosis for any fragments of suture material floating in the urinary tract.
  • dockbouy
    dockbouy Member Posts: 11
    #3
    rch said:

    Did he have robotic or open
    Did he have robotic or open prostatectomy? In any case, 5 ws of post-op is sufficient to heal the bladder-urethral anastamosis in either case. If he does not have any urinary obstruction, fever or lower abdominal pain then you could wait for a few days to see the surgeon.The surgeon might do a cystoscopy to evaluate the anastamosis for any fragments of suture material floating in the urinary tract.

    Foreign objects in urine post-op
    He had robotic surgery. We are not so overly concerned about any suture material, unless something has broken loose. However, you made no mention of the "clips" he has passed. Again, last night, another one appeared. I did some research, and it is not uncommon for clips to be used in this procedure, but they are to be removed so as not to break loose and cause blockages in the urethra, as well as other areas in the body. Research shows that in some cases, death has occurred due to clips being left behind. What now???
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #4
    dockbouy said:

    Foreign objects in urine post-op
    He had robotic surgery. We are not so overly concerned about any suture material, unless something has broken loose. However, you made no mention of the "clips" he has passed. Again, last night, another one appeared. I did some research, and it is not uncommon for clips to be used in this procedure, but they are to be removed so as not to break loose and cause blockages in the urethra, as well as other areas in the body. Research shows that in some cases, death has occurred due to clips being left behind. What now???

    Have You Gone To The Emergency Room Yet?
    FWIW, if it were me, I would already have been to the emergency room to get xrays taken to see what else might be floating around down there and to take appropriate action to remove it as need be.

    I certainly wouldn't be waiting around days or weeks for a follow-up visit w/my urologist or surgeon to "discuss" the problem.

    Hope everything turns out well but IMHO your story is just another reason why I do not like or recommend surgery as a treatment for PCa.

    Good luck!!!!
  • mrspjd
    mrspjd Member Posts: 694 Member
    #5
    Dockbouy
    It may not be any consolation but thought this other thread about plastic clips post-robotic RP might be of interest:
    http://csn.cancer.org/node/192564
    While rare, apparently it's not uncommon.  Hope your doc has some answers for you & your husband soon. 
  • rch
    rch Member Posts: 79
    #6
    mrspjd said:

    Dockbouy
    It may not be any consolation but thought this other thread about plastic clips post-robotic RP might be of interest:
    http://csn.cancer.org/node/192564
    While rare, apparently it's not uncommon.  Hope your doc has some answers for you & your husband soon. 

    Dockbouy
    Clips are used
    Dockbouy
    Clips are used routinely to close off blood vessels during surgery. They usually remain at their original spot, although some might migrate away eventually. But 5 wks is long enough time to close off the blood vessels. If you are really concerned however, you could send an urgent message to the Urologist.

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