Thank you for choosing Premier Medical Group. We realize that it is a privilege to take care of you and will do our best to make the experience for this procedure as pleasant and easy as possible.
Thank you for choosing Premier Medical Group. We realize that it is a privilege to take care of you and will do our best to make the experience for this procedure as pleasant and easy as possible.
Your urologist will determine whether medical clearance is needed from your primary care doctor and/or cardiologist. Please make every effort to keep these appointments, as your procedure may need to be rescheduled if we do not receive the proper letters of clearance in time.
You will also be scheduled for pre-surgical testing (PST) at the hospital where your procedure will be performed. The PST staff will discuss the types of anesthesia available to you and arrange some bloodwork.
7 days prior to the procedure, please stop all blood-thinners (this may be coordinated with your other physicians).
5 days prior to procedure, stop taking Warfarin (Coumadin). You may be placed on Lovenox, a prescribed blood thinner that is injected, in place of your warfarin. If so, this should be stopped 24 hours before the operation
As instructed by PST you will need to call the hospital after 4:00 pm to find out what time you are to arrive at the hospital for surgery. If your surgery is on a Monday you will need to call on the Friday before.
Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery or your surgery will be canceled.
On the morning of the procedure, take only the medication instructed by the PST staff with just a small sip of water. You must arrive at the hospital promptly at the time you were told. You will NOT allowed to drive home after the procedure or for at least 24 hours, so be sure to have a friend of family member with you.
When you arrive at the hospital, you will be greeted by a patient care representative who will escort you to the preoperative area. You will be asked to put on a hospital gown and remove your glasses, dentures, and jewelry. We advise you not to bring any valuables to the hospital. A nurse will begin intravenous line and administer antibiotics and you will meet your anesthesiologist and urologist who will go through a preoperative checklist with you.
You will be taken to the operating room and will be given either general or spinal anesthesia. The surgical area will likely be shaved.
Your mid-urethral sling will be placed by one of several methods and typically a small piece of mesh will be used as was discussed with you pre-operatively.
Common surgical risks include bleeding and infection.
Risks unique to sling surgery include rare urinary retention, persistent incontinence and possible bladder/ureteral injury. Should this occur, your surgeon will likely repair the injury at the time of surgery.
If you are unable to urinate as a result of the procedure or anesthesia, a bladder catheter will be placed and you will go home with a catheter and a leg bag. It will be removed the next day in our office. Please call for an appointment.
You will be allowed to perform normal activities of daily living (including climbing stairs) after the procedure, but are restricted from strenuous activities, exercise, or intercourse for 4 weeks. You may not drive for 5 days or while you are taking pain pills.
You may feel nauseated after the procedure, but should do your best to drink plenty of fluids.
Mild spotting of blood is normal and you should not be worried unless the blood is thick and copious.
If you develop fever greater than 100.5 degrees, shaking chills, severe nausea such that you cannot keep anything down, or are unable to urinate, please call the office at (845) 437-5000.
Please call for an appointment for catheter removal in 3-4 days and for a follow-up with your doctor in 2-4 weeks.
You may be discharged home with a Foley catheter if unable to void immediately after the surgery. If so, schedule a follow-up appointment in the office within 48 hours of the procedure.
Percocet – a narcotic used for pain control. You may take up to 2 tablets every four hours for pain, as needed. Side effects include dry mouth, itching, altered mental status, constipation, and other side effects.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) over the counter – a non-narcotic pain reliever. You may take 650 mg every 6 hours as needed.
You may resume your anti-platelet drugs the day after the procedure when you have no further bleeding. Your doctor will advise you when you resume anticoagulation medications.
Please note that every patient recovers differently from an operation. These guidelines are intended for general reference. Please discuss your individual case with your doctor.
Our office is open from 8:30 am-5:00 pm to assist you. Should an off hours emergency arise, please call (845) 437-5000 and ask for the doctor on-call.