Removle of catheter day after TURP was disaster.
Posted , 12 users are following.
So was wondering if anything like this has ever happened to you. I had a TURP procedure done in August and stayed over so they could flush the clots and debris from my bladder. The very next day around noon a young (intern, I think) Came in and said he was going to remove the catheter from me which kind of gave me a bad feeling because I would have thought the surgeon who performed it would remove it. To make a very long story short when he attempted to remove it, he got it stuck on the way out of me and I was in horrible pain as he pulled so hard, but it would not come out. He told me he would be back and left the room which seemed like forever, but was more likely 5 minutes or so. When he came back in he stated that the balloon was not deflating and he literally ripped it out and I swear I was going to have a heart attack. Well, after another surgery for a torn urethra I now have to go over a hundred miles away to have a specialist recusruct my urethra with skin graph from the inside of my mouth. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this or did someone really mess up?
0 likes, 22 replies
kenneth1955 john19969
Posted
Boy John that was a ordeal. Never heard of it after a Turp but it does happen. When I have a catheter taking out I make sure they take the saline out. Just be careful.
A doctor does not most of the time take the catheter out. He give orders and a nurse does it most of the time.
Hope all goes well this time. Make sure when you have this next catheter taking out so is the saline.
Good luck...........Ken
TKM john19969
Posted
John,
It sounds like the person removing the Foley catheter either forgot to deflate the balloon or did not know there was a balloon holding the Foley in the bladder. He may not have known how to deflate the balloon. I would say that someone really messed up. If he did not know someone should have instructed him. It might be considered malpractice. Someone has to be responsible, either your doctor or the hospital or surgery center where it was done.
Thomas
kenneth1955 john19969
Posted
John
What Tom is telling you is true. Someone should be held in a count. Look at all the stuff that was done to you and all you have to go through now. I hope you filed a compliant. They need to at least cover you next surgery to fix the problem.
Good luck...........Ken
john19969 kenneth1955
Posted
I will be turning 60 in March and I feel so much younger. Except for some back pain and the TURP everything works great. I'm so worried about this next major surgery after reading what could happen if things go south. This has a potential of ruining my sex life with my wife. It's getting to be very stressful as I have a catheter in for at least a good month before any surgery and god knows what will happen after the surgery.
Thanks for the replies I really appreciate it.
miriam65408 kenneth1955
Posted
I totally agree, no one should be 'sent' to remove a catheter without checking that they know how to do it. A standard Foley balloon (which holds the catheter in place) is inflated with 10cc of sterile saline. This balloon is around 2.5 cm/1 inch in diameter (I've just checked!). This is why it MUST be deflated! Catheters have a separate line with a valve (that's what the extra 'tail' is) and the valve is released when a syringe is pushed onto the port to either inflate or deflate. I've done it many times and occasionally the syringe doesn't open the valve so you have to wiggle it about a bit to get the connection made. Then you have to check the balloon to see how much saline comes out. If catheters have been in place for several days or weeks they can lose some fluid through osmosis so the person removing the catheter has to take a bit of a gamble as to whether less than 10cc in the syringe means the balloon is fully deflated having lost some, or whether it's still partially inflated. Just 3cc in the balloon means its about 1cm in diameter - so not handy for pulling out of the bladder and down the urethera (I'm betting many of you have watering eyes at this moment!)
There's also the matter of the bladder's sphincter - this is normally closed tight (to prevent urine from escaping) and the catheter, with its hopefully deflated balloon, has to first be pulled out of the sphincter.
This young lad, whatever his position and training, obviously did something very wrong. Make a complaint and try to remember every detail - did you see him put a syringe to the catheter? Did he seem to be having a problem with the syringe? Did he explain anything? Ask if you were in pain? Did anyone else rush in to see what he'd done (assuming he'd told someone when he went out - or maybe he was just hiding!). The more detail you can give the better.
kenneth1955 miriam65408
Posted
Good afternoon
Thank you for your comment. Yes he needs to get information from the hospital. He is being put through a lot because of this. At least file a complaint
Best wishes.....Ken
kenneth1955 john19969
Posted
John
What type of Urethroplasty are you going to have. You said that they are going to use the skin from your mouth. A graft. That is good. That means they are not doing a end to end like with a stricture. Do not let them do that one.
A man on here had it done and he lost 3 inches off his penis. Had a hard time with sex after.
Good luck and make sure you talk to the doctor and get all your questions answered. Ken
derek76 john19969
Posted
Why did you accept a TURP when there is now a range of much better procedures ?
john19969 derek76
Posted
I took 6 months making my mind up about this after 8 months on Tamslin and this Doctor kind of led me into that direction. To be honest the TURP was done excellent, but the idiot that was sent in to pull the catheter wreck me. I can't begin to tell you how bad it felt when he finally finished ripping it out I literally left that bathroom in blood. It looked like a murder was committed. Also prostate cancer runs rampant in our family. I just don't know anymore.
kenneth1955 john19969
Posted
John
I was kind of wondering the same as Derek. With all the other procedure out there why a Turp. Did your doctor offer you anything else or is that the only thing he did. I am glad that it worked out for you but it cold have gone the other way. Was cancer in your family another reason.
We men are all different and we all have different concerns. I hope he did not bug you into it.
Good luck..Ken
derek76 john19969
Posted
You were unfortunate to have that guy remove it. You certainly have grounds for complaint.
When I had the catheters removed by a urology nurse after my two laser procedures it was quite painless.
Good luck with the rest of your recovery from it.
lester90053 john19969
Posted
No hospital would allow a doctor, nurse or intern to work there unless they were insured for malpractice liability. You have an excellent case and you should consult a medical malpractice attorney. Good luck.
Motto lester90053
Posted
Came here to say just this. Talk to an attorney ASAP
glenn77 john19969
Posted
If you are in the US, see a medical malpractice attorney immediately.You are facing a difficult surgery that has significant risks, and many months of recovery. The pain and suffering, and the possible loss of marital consortium are not minor issues. You are likely to have many direct and indirect financial losses through the years ahead because of this fubar event. I recommend your seeing an attorney immediately because in some states, the statue of limitations for medical malpractice can be only a year or so.
Glenn
derek76 john19969
Posted
I love your expression " marital consortium " I'd not heard that before:-)