Optilume Balloon Dilation for Urethral Stricture Post Operative Instructions

Anesthesia

Do not drive a car or operate machinery for 24 hours after anesthesia and while your catheter is in.

Do not consume alcohol, tranquilizers, sleeping medication, or any non-prescribed medication for 24 hours after anesthesia or if taking a pain medication.

Do not make important decisions or sign any important papers in the next 24 hours after anesthesia.

Diet

After anesthesia, begin with clear liquids. Avoid any heavy meals on the day of the procedure. Depending on how you feel the following day, you may resume the diet you normally follow.

Be sure to drink plenty of water. If the urine is dark, or has blood, drink more fluids.

Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit to avoid constipation. Anesthesia can promote constipation. Constipation can make urinary symptoms worse.

Urinary Symptoms / Foley Catheter

You will have a catheter in the bladder. The catheter will be connected to a drainage bag and secured to your leg. The nursing staff should have gone over basic catheter care instructions. Your catheter will stay in typically for 72 hours depending on your treating physician.

With a catheter it is common to have urgency (constant sensation to urinate), burning, blood in the urine and pelvic pressure. You were given medications to help with these symptoms such oxybutynin and pyridium. Please take as directed.

It is important to stay hydrated with at least 64 ounces of water daily to ensure adequate urine output and keep the catheter draining well. This also will help with bleeding.

Once the foley catheter is removed, it is normal to have burning and stinging with urination for a few weeks after surgery. It is also common to have more frequent urination and a greater sense of the urge to urinate. There may not be much warning from the time you feel the urge to urinate to the time when the bladder is ready to empty.

Important Safety Information

Men should abstain from sex or use barrier contraception (wear a condom) for 30 days post treatment to avoid exposure of sexual partner to paclitaxel. Paclitaxel may be present in semen after treatment. Men with partners of child-bearing potential should use highly effective contraceptive and avoid fathering children until at least 6 months after treatment.

Activity

You may resume your normal activity once your catheter is removed. You may shower with a catheter but do not submerge in water such as bath tub, hot tub, open water or swimming pool.

Medications

You may resume the normal home medications unless instructed otherwise after surgery.

You do not need any specific medications unless you have been given a prescription by your doctor.

You may take over-the-counter, acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for pain. You may take over the counter stool softeners (Colace, MiraLAX, Metamucil, Senna-Gen), as needed for constipation.

Postoperative appointment

Patients typically have a postoperative appointment 3-5 days after surgery for catheter removal and void trial. Call the office for an appointment if you do not already have one.

Call the office or come to the emergency room for

• Temperature over 101°F
• If the catheter stops draining, get up and walk around. If it is still not draining, come to the emergency room as it may be clogged and need to be irrigated.
• Nausea/vomiting
• Pain not relieved with pain medication