Weill Medical College of Cornell University

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• For Registered Patients Only: Post-Surgery Guidelines

Having Surgery

Medical Clearance

In preparation for surgery, you will be asked to obtain medical clearance for surgery. You will need a medical exam and typically some additional tests (typically blood and urine tests, and an electrocardiogram) to ensure that you are in good overall health and are a good candidate for surgery. You can schedule this examination and testing with your own doctor, or we can arrange for the examination to be performed at Weill Cornell. The results of these tests should be faxed or mailed to us 4 weeks before the scheduled surgery date.

Planning Ahead

You will need to fill some prescriptions at your pharmacy, and obtain some medical supplies that you will need after your surgery.

Your instruction e-mail or brochure provides detailed pre-surgery instructions. You will need to follow a special diet and prepare your digestive system for surgery, which includes taking a laxative to empty your bowels.

Before and After Surgery

The day before your surgery you will be contacted and given a specific time to arrive at Weill Cornell. Surgery typically commences within a couple of hours after you arrive. Our urology surgical suites are located on the 10th Floor of the Payson Pavilion. Recovery rooms are also located on this floor. After surgery most patients recover on the newly renovated 15th floor of the Baker Pavilion. Here you will receive the individualized care that you need.

Most patients may anticipate being discharged by the next day.

Six-to-nine days after surgery, you will return to us for post-surgery evaluation and catheter removal. Your own physician can provide any additional follow-up care you may require. You may even elect to have your own urologist remove the catheter, a convenient option for many of our patients who come from out-of-town or from other countries.