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Cystectomy is surgery for partial or complete removal of your bladder. It is often considered to treat bladder cancer. After removing the urinary bladder, the doctor will create a new way for urine to leave the body. It is also used to treat benign conditions that affect the urinary system and bladder. Cystectomy is a major surgery, so here is everything you should know about it so that you are completely prepared for your bladder surgery.

Procedure Preparation

• Before a cystectomy is considered, the doctor at any Ranchi urology centre will check your general health and take your vitals. They will also talk to you about which surgical approach will be used to remove your bladder and whether a part of your bladder or your entire bladder will be removed.
• Partial cystectomy: This involves the surgeon removing only a part of your bladder. If the aim is to treat cancer, the nearby lymph nodes will also be removed to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond your bladder. Lymph nodes are tiny bundles of tissue that filter the lymph fluid and produce immune system cells. Then, the remaining bladder will be repaired.
• Simple cystectomy: in this process, the surgeon will remove the bladder but not the surrounding structures. This approach is used to treat benign bladder conditions like radiatic cystitis, neurogenic bladder, severe interstitial cystitis, and urinary fistula.
• Radical cystectomy: This treatment involves the removal of the entire bladder and the nearby lymph nodes. For males, surgeons usually cut the vas deferens and remove teeth, seminal vesicles, and prostate. In females, the surgeon often removes the fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and ovaries. A part of the vaginal wall may also be removed. 

Before the procedure, make sure you inform the doctor about any medications you are taking. Anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, blood thinners, and certain herbal supplements increase your risk of bleeding. Also, make sure you check with a healthcare provider before stopping any medications. 

Also, inform the doctor about any allergies you have. That also includes medications, latex, foods, and skin cleaners like isopropyl alcohol or iodine. The doctor will give you specific directions on eating and drinking before the procedure. Avoid eating and drinking anything after midnight before the sugar. If any medications should be taken, you may take them with a small sip of water.

What Happens After the Procedure?

The incisions will be stitched and covered with bandages after the cystectomy. You may be awake within a few minutes. You will then be moved to the recovery room, and the healthcare providers will track your overall health once you fully wake up. They will give you pain medication to treat your pain.

How Long Will the Hospital Stay?

This depends on the type of cystectomy you have. Usually, the patient has to stay in the hospital for up to a week. During your stay, providers will monitor your recovery and make sure you are not having any issues with pain management. 

Key Learnings

Cystectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of part or all of the urinary bladder. The procedure and recovery can be stressful. But the best doctors will help you adjust and defer the best suggestions for your long-term well-being.