Pyeloplasty

Anesthesia General anesthesia is given during pyeloplasty. You will be asleep during the procedure and will not feel any pain. Description of the Procedure Pyeloplasty may be conducted by open surgery or laparoscopic surgery . During open surgery, an incision is made in your side. The surgeon reconstructs the renal pelvis to remove the blockage. The blocked section of the ureter is removed. The remaining healthy sections are reattached to the renal pelvic tissue. The laparoscopic approach is similar except it is done through small key-hole incisions. In some surgeries, tubes may be placed in the ureter to help draining. A tube can be easily removed in a doctor's office about a week after the surgery. After Procedure You will receive pain medication to ease discomfort after surgery. You may also experience some discomfort while urinating for the first few times following surgery. It is also common to feel a frequent need to urinate. How Long Will It Take? The surgery takes about 2-3 hours. Will It Hurt? Minor pain following surgery is treated with prescription medication. Pain can be easily controlled with over-the-counter pain medication once released from the hospital. Possible Complications Possible complications of pyeloplasty include:

Bleeding Infection Hernia Damage to tissues or organs Persistent leakage of urine Average Hospital Stay Your stay at the hospital is about 2-3 days. Postoperative Care If you received a drain or catheter during surgery, you will have an appointment one week after surgery to have it removed. If no catheter was used, an appointment should be scheduled for four weeks after surgery. You must continue to take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Outcome Prognosis following pyeloplasty is good. The success rate is over 95%. Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occurs Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: A temperature higher than 101F Excessive bleeding Excessive irritability Difficulty urinating Vomiting Symptoms similar to what was experienced before the surgery RESOURCES: American Foundation for Urologic Disease http://www.afud.org American Urological Association http://www.auafoundation.org CANADIAN RESOURCES: Canadian Health Network http://www.canadian-health-network.ca Canadian Urological Association http://www.cua.org/

References: Inagaki T, Rha KH, Ong AM, Kavoussi LR, Jarrett TW. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty: current status. BJU Int . 2005 Mar; 95(Suppl 2):102-5. McAleer IM, Kaplan GW. Renal function before and after pyeloplasty: does it improve? J Urol. 1999 Sep;162(3 Pt 2:1041-1044. Turk T, Sharma SK, Fulmer BR. Pyeloplasty. Emedicine website. Available at: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3059.htm . Accessed February 26, 2007. Wash PC, Vaughan ED, Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Novick A, Partin AW. Campbells Urology . 8th ed. Saunders; 2002. Last reviewed March 2008 by Miguel Antelo, MD Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.