Robotic prostatectomy

A prostatectomy is an operation to remove your:

• prostate – an organ deep in your pelvis that produces components of semen
• seminal vesicles – structures next to the prostate that help to make semen

In the past, we did most prostate operations using the traditional ‘open’ method. During this, the surgeon made one large cut in your tummy. Now, we do most operations by ‘keyhole’ surgery using robotic equipment, which means we only make small cuts to remove your prostate.

At UCLH, we use the Da Vinci® machine to do robotic prostatectomies. The Da Vinci® robots are the state-of-the-art robots for this kind of surgery. This operation is safe and effective, and is now the best option for nearly all men who need a prostatectomy.

If you have localised or locally advanced prostate cancer, a prostatectomy may be an option. Localised and locally advanced means the cancer is within the prostate or its coverings. It also means that it hasn’t spread to other areas such as your bones, lungs, or lymph nodes outside your pelvis. Most men who have a prostatectomy become cancer-free for many years. This is because a prostatectomy removes the whole prostate and all the cancer inside it.

The benefits of this operation include the following: 

• We remove the whole prostate in a single treatment to cure the cancer
• Removing the whole prostate lowers the chance that you will need further treatment
• If the cancer comes back, other treatments like radiotherapy are still possible
• Many men feel reassured knowing that their prostate containing the cancer has been removed

Below are the side effects and risks of a robotic prostatectomy. We will discuss these and any risks specific to you in detail.  

Common (greater than 1 in 10)

• A temporary catheter (tube) in your bladder and a drain in your abdomen. This is to help remove extra fluid. The catheter might cause infection or bleeding, or it might fall out.
• Urine leaks. We also call this urinary incontinence. For most men this will improve within three months. Three months after the operation, 8 in 10 men either wear no pads or one pad a day. Before your operation, your surgeon will discuss your personal risk of urine leaks in the clinic.
• Problems with erections. All men will have trouble getting or keeping erections after the operation. It can take up to two years for your erections to recover even if the surgeon can save the nerves. This is called a nerve sparing robotic prostatectomy. Permanent erection problems depend on whether the surgeon can save all or parts of your nerves. Whether they can save them depends on where the cancer is in your prostate and how your erections are before the surgery.
• Infertility and dry ejaculation. This happens to all men who have this operation. After a prostatectomy, you will no longer produce semen when you ejaculate. This is because the surgeon removes the seminal vesicles, which make the fluid, and cuts the tubes that carry sperm from your testes. As a result, you will be infertile. If you would like the option of having children in the future, we can offer sperm banking before your surgery. If you haven’t stored sperm beforehand, there is a procedure to collect sperm from your testes.
• Abdominal bloating. We fill your abdomen with gas during the operation so that the surgeon has space to do the operation. Your abdomen may feel stretched and bloated afterwards. This usually resolves in a couple of days after the surgery.
• Shoulder tip pain. Although we remove the gas used during the operation, some men may feel pain or aching in their shoulders afterwards. This happens because the gas stretches the diaphragm, a large muscle that sits just above your tummy and helps you breathe. This type of discomfort is quite common and usually settles within a couple of days after surgery.

Occasional (between 1 in 10 and 1 in 50)

• Bladder scarring. This will cause your urine to flow weaker. If this happens you may need another operation.
• Severe urine leaks. This could be temporary or permanent. If this happens, you will need to wear pads or have another operation to fix it. One in 20 men will have this one year after the operation.
• Constipation. We will give you medicine for this. If you have had piles before, you need to be careful to avoid constipation to stop more blood loss. Drink at least two litres of fluid each day and eat a high-fibre diet.
• Shortening or curving of your penis. This can happen either straight away or a while after the operation. It can be permanent and is more likely to happen if we can’t save your nerves during the surgery.
• Hernia. A hernia happens when part of the body pushes through a weak spot in the muscles. It may happen in your groin or at any of the surgical cuts. It often causes a lump or bulge and can feel uncomfortable, especially when you cough or lift something. You may need another operation to fix this.
• Swelling, inflammation or bruising in your scrotum. Your scrotum may become swollen and dark purple due to bruising, which usually lasts four to six weeks. If it becomes painful, very hot, or tender, this could be a sign of infection, and you should contact your GP.
• Perineal pain. This means pain or discomfort in the area between your back passage and your scrotum.
• Narrowing of your urethra. If this happens, you will need an operation to widen your urethra.
• Peeing when you orgasm. We also call this climacturia. You will only pee a small amount. It is not harmful to you or your partner, and usually gets better as your bladder control improves.

Rare (less than 1 in 50)

• Problems with the anaesthetic. If this happens, we may admit you into intensive care. You can visit the Royal College of Anaesthetists website for more information.
• Heart and circulation problems. These could include a chest infection, a blood clot in your leg or lung, a stroke, or a heart attack. Very rarely, these problems can be serious, and we may admit you to intensive care. The risk of death from these complications is about 1 in 1000.
• Severe blood loss. If this happens you may need a blood transfusion. You may also need to have another operation, or we may need to change the operation to ‘open’ surgery. During open surgery, you will have one large cut in your tummy.
• Problems where the cuts are made. Some people may experience pain, infection, or a hernia in those areas.
• Rectum injury. If this happens you may need to have a temporary colostomy. A colostomy collects your poo in a bag attached to your tummy.
• Infections such as:
  • MRSA would infection – this affects 1 in 110 men. 
  • Clostridium difficile (c-diff) bowel infection – this affects 1 in 500 men. 
  • MRSA bloodstream infection – this affects 1 in 1250 men. 
• Surgical clip in your bladder. Occasionally, a small plastic or metal clip used during the operation to seal blood vessels around the prostate can move into the bladder. This usually happens at a later time and may cause bleeding or problems with peeing. An additional procedure may be needed to remove the clip. 
• Damage to your bowel or blood vessels in your abdomen. Your surgeon may notice this during your operation or the recovery period afterwards. If this happens, you will need an operation, or tubes inserted, to fix it.
• Damage to your ureters. This happens to fewer than 1 in 100 men. Your ureters are the tubes that urine flows through from your kidneys to your bladder. If they get damaged, it may disrupt the urine flow into your bladder. We may need to insert small plastic tubes through your skin into your ureter.  
• Change to the type of surgery. Sometimes we may need to change the type of surgery you have to ‘open’ or ‘standard keyhole’ surgery. This can happen if there are problems with the robot, bleeding, scar tissue, or injury to your rectum or urethra that needs extra treatment. 
• Eye problems, or arm or leg numbness, and weakness. This can happen because of the position you’re in during surgery which can increase the pressure in your eyes and on your nerves. 
• Painful orgasms. We also call this orgasmodynia. This happens to about 1 in 100 men. It usually settles on its own, but it can last for up to two years. If you notice this symptom, tell your hospital doctor or nurse so they can prescribe you medicine.  

You may need further treatment if: 

• during the operation we find that the cancer has spread 
• after the operation, tests on the prostate show there is cancer at the edge of the tissue we removed or in the lymph nodes 
• your PSA level at about 3 months after surgery is more than 0.1ng/ml 

This is a type of surgery done after previous prostate cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy or focal therapy. These treatments can cause scarring, which makes the operation harder, and increases risks and side effects. Only a few surgeons have enough experience to do this type of surgery, so it is not offered across the whole NHS. At UCLH we have experienced “salvage” surgeons. Your salvage surgeon will discuss the risks and side effects for your specific case with you at your clinic appointment. They will also discuss alternatives to having this more complex surgery.

This depends on whether your prostate cancer is classed as low, medium, or high-risk. Your doctor will explain which risk group you are in. If you’re not sure, you can ask your doctor or CNS to explain it to you. 

If you have low or medium-risk prostate cancer

You may not need treatment right away. Instead, we can monitor it with active surveillance for up to several years. This means having regular tests to check the cancer. If there are signs that your cancer is progressing, we will offer you treatment.

Some men choose treatment right away because they feel uneasy waiting. However, studies show that survival rates are similar whether you have treatment now or later. 

Note: If your cancer is very low-risk and doesn’t show on an MRI scan, you may not need treatment. If so, we normally recommend active surveillance where we monitor your cancer with PSA blood tests and MRI scans.

If you have a high-risk prostate cancer

If you choose not to have a prostatectomy or another treatment, there is a risk that the cancer could grow or spread beyond the prostate gland. Delaying treatment might mean it may not be an option later. Going without treatment could pose a serious risk to your life.

Alternative options include:

• active surveillance
• focal therapy – such as HIFU, cryotherapy or Nanoknife^TM
• radiotherapy
• brachytherapy
• hormone therapy

Your urology doctor will tell you which of these treatments are suitable for you. They will arrange an appointment for you with the specialist team. If you want to find out more about these treatments, visit our treating prostate cancer web page. Or ask your CNS for the information leaflet about the treatment.

A team of surgeons, nurses and trainees will care for you. You may meet different surgeons during your treatment. We will make sure that your care is well-organised, so you always get the support you need.

Your surgical team includes the following people:

• Lead surgeon (who is responsible for the operation) 
• Surgical trainees 
• Surgical care practitioners 
• Scrub nurses 
• Anaesthetist (who is responsible for the general anaesthetic).

For two to three weeks before your operation

Your CNS will teach you pelvic floor muscle exercises. You should do these at least three times a day. These reduce urine leaks after the operation. If no one has shown you how to do these or you are unsure, please tell your CNS. Prostate Cancer UK have leaflets on pelvic floor muscle exercises. There are details on other organisations that offer advice on pelvic floor muscles in the ‘Where can I find more information?’ section.

Your pre-assessment appointment

We will give you a pre-assessment clinic appointment several weeks before your operation. At the appointment, a nurse will check if you are well enough for the treatment and will: 

• explain the anaesthetic you will have 
• tell you if you should continue taking your medicines 
• let you know when to stop eating and drinking before the operation 
• advise what to bring on the day

Please tell your urology doctor at this appointment, or before it, if you have or have had any of the following: 

• Acute angle glaucoma 
• Stroke  
• Peripheral vascular disease of your legs 
• Artificial heart valve 
• Coronary artery stents  
• Heart pacemaker or defibrillator  
• Artificial joint  
• Artificial blood vessel graft  
• Brain shunt  
• Implant 
• MRSA infection  
• High risk of variant CJD (if you've had a corneal transplant, brain operation with dural transplant or human-derived growth hormone injections)
• Or if you take any of the following medicines: 
  • Warfarin 
  • Aspirin 
  • Rivaroxaban 
  • Apixaban 
  • Clopidogrel 
  • Dapaglifoxin (a tablet for diabetes) 
  • Any weight loss injections, such as Mounjaro or Ozempic 

On the day of your operation

• We usually admit you on the day of your operation.
• You should have a shower before you leave your home.
• Please try to do a poo in the morning. If you can’t do a poo, we may give you a suppository.
• You don’t need to shave any area of your body. We will shave you in the anaesthetic room once you are asleep if we need to.
• You should not eat for six hours before the operation.
• You can drink water until two hours before the surgery.

We want to involve you in all the decisions about your care and treatment. If you decide to go ahead, by law we must ask you to sign a consent form. This confirms that you agree to have the operation and understand what it involves. Staff will explain the risks, benefits and alternatives before you sign a consent form. If you are unsure about any aspect of the operation, please speak with a senior member of your urology team.

Before your operation

• You will meet your doctors and nurse after we admit you. 

• The anaesthetic team will visit you to make sure that the are no issues with giving you the anaesthetic. 

  Please tell them if you have any concerns or issues about having the anaesthetic. Or if you have any allergies.

• The ward staff will fit you with compression stockings. These will help prevent clots in the veins of your legs.
• Before you go for the operation, we will ask you to change into a surgical gown. 
• You will have a general anaesthetic before the operation. This means that you will be asleep throughout it.  
• The anaesthetist will also put a tube into your arm. This is so they can access your blood vessels during the operation.  
• Once you’ve had the anaesthetic we’ll take you into the operating theatre.  

During your operation

• During the operation, you will get an injection of antibiotics. This helps to reduce the risk of you getting an infection. 
• You will lie on your back on the operating table. We tilt the operating table so that your head is lower than your feet. This is the best position for pelvic operations. 
• We’ll put the robotic patient cart beside you. Attached to the cart are four robotic arms. Three hold the instruments and one has a high-magnification 3D camera on it. This is so the surgeon can see inside your tummy. 
• The surgeon attaches the instruments to robotic arms and inserts them into your tummy through small cuts.  
• They sit at the console to control the robot and perform the operation with precise and careful movements.

Image of the robotic operating room with surgeons controlling the robot. Image produced by the British Association of Urological Surgeons and reused with permission. 

• The instruments are about 7mm wide and can move more freely than a human hand. Their small size allows the surgeon to work through the tiny cuts in your body.
• Most of the cuts in your tummy are small – about five to 10 millimetres wide. One cut by your tummy button is wider because the surgeon removes your prostate through it. The size of this cut will depend on the size of your prostate.

Image showing the location of the cuts. Image created by Professor Patel, consultant urology surgeon at UCLH.

• Once the surgeon removes the prostate, the anaesthetist injects a local anaesthetic into the cuts which helps to reduce pain.

Straight after your operation

• We will take you to the recovery area.
• The anaesthetist will give you a large dose of painkillers before you wake up. 
• You will wake up with: 
  • an oxygen mask on your face
  • a catheter in your bladder (to drain urine)
  • possibly a wound drain from your tummy 
  • six small, closed cuts
• When you are awake, we will give you tablet painkillers. Take these painkillers to speed up your recovery.
• Some men have a slight swelling of their face and eyes when they first wake up after the anaesthetic. This goes sooner if you sit rather than lie down. Try not to rub your eyes as this can cause you pain if they are swollen.
• Some men have a sore throat after the operation. This is due to the tube in your throat that helps you to breathe during the operation.
• Very rarely men have numbness over their knee or in their fingers. This should get better after two weeks.
• Some men have bruising across their abdomen.

• Once the surgical team have agreed that you are well enough, we will take you back to the ward.
• We will encourage you to sit in a chair as soon as possible. We know that sitting up straight after your operation will support your recovery. If you find it uncomfortable to sit, please let the staff know and we can change your position.  
• We will give you clear fluids to drink.
• You can start eating about four hours after your operation.  
• We will give you simple painkillers, if you are in pain. Take them regularly so you stay comfortable. This will help you to feel able to get out of bed and move around sooner, and it can also help you go home earlier. Please let the ward staff know if you feel pain.  
• We will encourage you to start moving around as soon as four hours after your operation.  
  • First, you should sit in your chair for short periods.
  • Soon afterwards you should start moving around your bed.
  • You can also go for a wash or have a walk along the ward.
• The day after your operation we will change your catheter bag to a smaller leg bag. 
• We aim to discharge you the day after your operation. So, we will ask you to dress yourself by then.  
• If you live far from the hospital or if you have an extra medical need, you might need to stay in the hospital longer. 
• We discharge you once: 
  • you are eating and drinking 
  • you are walking around as well as before your operation
  • you can care for your catheter and leg bag
  • your pain is well managed using tablet painkillers 
  • you have passed wind after the operation

If we discharge you during the week, your CNS will give you more advice before you leave. 

You must arrange for someone to take you home from the hospital. You should also have help to look after you at home.

Your catheter

• You will go home with your catheter in. We will teach you how to look after your catheter before you go. You can find detailed instructions on our Caring for your urinary catheter webpage. Ask your CNS or ward nurse if you’d like a paper copy of the information.
• Your urine will continuously drain into the catheter bag until the catheter is removed.
• We ask some men to remove their catheter at home. We will arrange a phone appointment to tell you what to do. We will arrange this for seven to 10 days after your operation. We will also give you written instructions and a video link which shows you how to remove your catheter. You can discuss removing your catheter at home with your ward nurses and CNS.
• Sometimes, we might ask you to come to the hospital seven to 14 days after your operation to remove your catheter. If we tell you that this will happen, make sure that you get the appointment before you leave the hospital.
• We ask some men who live in other countries to have their catheter removed at their local hospital. If you do, you should get your catheter removed seven to 14 days after the operation.

Coping with urine leaks

• You may have urine leaks after the catheter is removed. This is common and tends to get better within three to six months. You may need to wear absorbent pads while you have urine leaks. You should make sure that you have some pads at home before you have your catheter removed. It is better to get pads designed for men’s underwear.
• You can bring pads with you to your catheter removal appointment. We will give you some at the appointment too.
• You will need to wear or bring supportive underwear for the pads to stick to. We recommend briefs rather than boxers.
• Your nurse will tell you where you can get the pads from. Do not buy too many until you know how severe the urine leaks are. The hospital can’t provide you with pads long-term, so you will have to buy them yourself.
• If you have severe urine leaks, we will give you a follow up appointment and more support.
• We recommend you do pelvic floor exercises to help regain your urine control. You will need to do the exercises once the catheter is removed and for up to a year afterwards.
• Do not do pelvic floor exercises when your catheter is in place.

Managing erection problems

• Tablets can help you get erections if they were good before the operation or if the surgeon saved the nerves on at least one side of your prostate.
• If appropriate, we may offer you medications like Viagra or Cialis. You’ll get these when you're discharged or during your appointment to remove your catheter. Follow the instructions to improve blood flow and support your recovery.
• We may also offer a vacuum pump to help.
• If you didn’t have good erections before or if your nerves weren’t saved, you can use: 
  • a vacuum pump
  • injections, such as Caverject or Invicorp
  • muse, a pellet which you put into the tip of your penis
  • These can help you to get an erection that is firm enough for sex. We may also offer you an appointment with a doctor who specialises in men’s sexual health.
• If possible, start sexual activity about a month after your operation. It is unlikely that you will lose your sex drive after the operation. The sensations you feel will not change and sex can still be pleasurable. You should still be able to orgasm even if you can’t get an erection, but you will not produce much fluid.

Managing your pain

• Most men don’t need painkillers for more than three days after the operation.
• Take mild painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen unless you are allergic to them.
• We may give you medicines to stop bladder spams or manage your pain if you need them. However, these may cause side effects.
• Try to avoid taking dihydrocodeine for a long time as it can cause constipation. Only use it if your pain is moderate or severe.

Blood thinning injections

• We may ask you to use blood thinning injections for 28 days, to prevent blood clots.
• Some injections are done once a day and others twice a day – follow the instructions on your discharge summary.

Caring for your cuts

We seal the cuts with a surgical glue, so they don’t need special care or dressings. The glue will wear off in 10 to 14 days.  

Compression stockings

Wear your compression stockings all day, every day for six weeks after your operation. These help to prevent blood clots.

• Remove them when you are bathing or showering.
• You can also remove them to let air get your legs but for no longer than one hour at a time.
• You can wash them.
• You can still use moisturiser on your legs.

Clothing

Wear loose clothes such as tracksuit bottoms, joggers and t-shirts, as these will feel more comfortable.

Bathing

You may shower and bathe as normal.

Eating

Eat small, frequent meals. Eat lots of fibre, protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Pelvic floor exercises

• Restart your pelvic floor exercises once your catheter is removed.
• These help to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles so that you reduce the risk of urine leaks.
• You should do these regularly.
• At the end of this information are details of organisations and apps which offer guidance on pelvic floor muscle exercises.

Staying active

• It is important to stay active after your operation. Staying active reduces the risk of problems such as a chest infection or blood clot.
• Do a little bit of gentle exercise, such as walking, each day.
• After two weeks, you can do gentle jogging and aerobic exercise, if you like.
• Do not do vigorous activity for up to 12 weeks after your operation. After that, you can slowly restart normal activities.

Lifting and carrying

• After four weeks, you can restart light lifting such as carrying a small bag of shopping.
• Avoid heavy lifting for six weeks. Do not lift anything heavier than 2kg during this time. This is to prevent injuries to your abdomen, such as a hernia. It also means that your healing won’t be delayed.

Driving

• Don’t drive while you have a catheter fitted.
• You can start to drive again when it feels comfortable to you. This will usually be about two weeks after your operation and when you feel you can make an emergency stop. 
• Check when your insurance company covers you from after having operation.

Flying

• Short flights – After two weeks, you can take a flight if it is less than three hours.
• Long flights – We do not recommend you take a flight longer than three hours until eight weeks after your operation.
• We recommend that you use flight socks, compression stockings and a ring pillow for all flights for three months after your operation.
• Move around regularly and drink lots of fluids during the flight.
• Check when your travel insurance will cover you after your operation.

Returning to work

• Please allow at least two to four weeks before you return to work.
• Everyone recovers at a different rate and some men may need longer.
• Most men feel ready to return to work after six weeks.

Taking care of yourself

Most importantly, you must look after yourself. Although you are in hospital for a short time, you must remember that you had a major abdominal operation. Listen to your body and report any concerns to your CNS.

Your first follow-up appointment will depend on where your catheter was removed:

• If we remove your catheter in the clinic – your first appointment will be seven to 14 days after the operation. Your next appointment, when you get your test results, will be five to six weeks after that.
• If you remove your catheter at home – your first appointment will be six to eight weeks after your operation. This is when you get your test results.

When you get your test results, we will also tell you your care plan. This will be a telephone or an in-person appointment, depending on your needs.

We will check your PSA levels every three months for the first year after your operation. We will check them regularly but less often after that.

The hospital that referred you will take over your care, once we’re happy with your recovery. This is usually three months after the operation. You will have further follow-up appointments at the hospital that referred you.

At UCLH, we are happy for you to bring a family member, friend or carer with you to your appointments. We know this can be a stressful time and so you may need their support.

We will send you weblinks on MyCareUCLH to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire is called ‘EPIC-26’. By completing this questionnaire, you can tell us about how you are getting on. We will send it to you:

• Before your operation
• Three months after your operation
• One year after your operation

The questionnaire takes around five minutes to complete. We’d be very grateful if you could fill it in. Your answers will help us to give you the best care as you recover from your operation. They will also help us improve our service for other patients.

A cancer diagnosis can affect your finances. You might need to stop or reduce work or spend more money on things like travelling to the hospital. You may be eligible for benefits or other types of financial support. A benefits advisor can help you find out which benefits you may be eligible for. Call Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 00 00 and ask to speak to a benefits advisor. Or ask your CNS to refer you to the UCLH Welfare and Benefits team.

Macmillan Cancer Support have free booklet called Help with the Cost of Cancer. You can get a copy at the UCLH Macmillan Support and Information Service. Or download it from the Macmillan website.

• Prostate cancer treatments choices  
  A video developed by North Central and East London Cancer Alliance to help you learn about prostate cancer treatments

• UCLH Macmillan Support and Information Service 
  0203 447 8663 (general enquiries) 
  0203 447 3816 (support and information helpline)  

  They provide: 

  • emotional support, advice and information 
  • welfare and benefits advice 
  • complementary therapies 
  • diet and nutritional advice 
  • psychological and emotional care 
  • UCLH Prostate Cancer Support Group is on the second Thursday of each month, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. You can attend either online or in person. Email uclh.supportandinformation@nhs.net or visit our support group web page for more information
• Prostate Cancer UK
  0800 074 8383 
  Provides support and information for patients and their families
• Tackle 
  Provides information, support and access to a network of support groups
• LGBT Walnut
  07947 826 853  
  A London-based support group for LGBT people affected by prostate cancer
• Macmillan Cancer Support
  0808 808 00 00
  Provides information and support to anyone affected by cancer, including booklet on localised (early) and locally advanced prostate cancer
• Cancer Research UK 
  Provides information about prostate cancer and treatments
• Infopool. Prostate Cancer Research 
  The infopool has been co-designed with healthcare professionals and patients. Supporting patients and healthcare professionals with a new educational website 
• Squeezy app 
  Support with pelvic floor muscles. Includes exercise videos
• Your Pelvic Floor 
  Information on pelvic floor exercises
• The Manual: products to help you deal with leaking urine 
  Questions people often ask about urine leaks and answers from a Prostate Cancer UK specialist nurse
• 5K Your way – Move Against Cancer
  This program invites anyone affected by cancer – patients, loved ones, and cancer care workers – to take part in a 5k Your Way parkrun. Whether you want to walk, jog, run, cheer, or volunteer, you’re welcome to join on the last Saturday of each month
• Pro-Recover app 
  Offers expert guidance and support for men before and after robotic prostatectomy. The ProRecover app is free to download from the Apple App Store (iPhone/iPad) and from Google Play (androids)

UCLH cannot accept responsibility for information provided by other organisations.

Prostate Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) (Mon – Fri, 9am to 5pm) 
Contact through their support worker: 
Tel: 07984 391126  
Email: uclh.prostatecancercns@nhs.net 

Pathway Coordinator for admin queries (for example changing your appointment) (Mon – Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Tel: 020 3447 8454 
Email: uclh.urology.roboticprostate@nhs.net  

Out of hours, please contact your GP or go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E).

We used the following sources to develop this information:

• Consensus panels
• British Association of Urological Surgeons
• Royal College of Anaesthetists
• Department of Health.

With this expert advice, you can trust we follow the best care practices in the UK.