Department of Urologic Surgery
Robotic Prostatectomy Patient Information
Brochures
- Recovery of urinary control after radical prostatectomy (PDF)
- Recovery of erectile function after radical prostatectomy (PDF)
- After your prostatectomy (PDF)
Video: After Your Prostatectomy
More info?
To view a Powerpoint presentation on robotic prostatectomy, click here.
What Happens After Hospital Discharge?
Most patients require only a single night of hospitalization after surgery. Those who live within a few hours of Nashville can anticipate returning home on the first postoperative day. Many patients from around the country and the world though, travel long distances for their surgery. An additional one to two nights in Nashville is recommended and our office staff can help you arrange accommodations nearby.
The catheter typically remains for a week or so. Many men choose to have their catheter removed locally by their urologist’s or primary care physician’s nursing staff in order to avoid a long trip back to Nashville. Typically, a followup appointment with the Vanderbilt surgeon is made one month after catheter removal. This allows the surgeon to assess completely the recovery process, to discuss rehabilitation efforts, to review the pathology information, and to obtain a postoperative PSA. Pathology results are called to the patient as soon as they are available (3-4 days).
Long term, a PSA is recommended every six months for two years and then yearly. Patients who live long distances from Vanderbilt may choose to have their routine followup performed locally. However, we maintain a strong interest in how our patients are doing. We remain available for phone or in person consultations and expect followup reports including PSA values every six months for two years.
