Countdown To Surgery
If you are currently awaiting a robotic prostatectomy, it is essential for your own safety and for the success of your surgery that you carefully read and obey these instructions from MidlandUrology.Center

6-8 Weeks Prior To Surgery
You must schedule pre-operative tests,which generally consists of a chest X-ray, routine blood testing, and an ECG (electrocardiogram, an electrical map of your heart that can reveal and diagnose electro-physiological problems with your heart). Testing should be completed no earlier than six weeks prior to the date of surgery to ensure that the results are current. These tests will help to ensure that we have not overlooked any serious medical problems that may complicate the surgery.

Initiate a regular routine of male kegel exercises. Kegel exercise strengthens the pelvic floor muscle group which are involved in stemming the flow of urine. By building up these muscles now, you will speed up your return to continence after surgery. Additionally, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles improves orgasmic function, and this will help you preserve and regain potency. In the interest of continence and potency, it is essential you begin a consistent regiment as soon as possible and continue to maintain it faithfully after surgery.

30 Days Prior to Surgery

• STOP taking any aspirin products, which increase your chance of excess bleeding during surgery.
• STOP taking any Motrin (ibuprofen) or related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• STOP taking most herbal supplements.
• STOP taking supplements believed to be detrimental to your pre-surgery health, including St. John's Wort, the now illegal ephedra or Ma Huang, kava kava, licorice, pennyroyal, germander, chaparral, borage, coltsfoot, comfrey, life root, sassafras, aristolochia fangchi.
• STOP taking supplements that act as blood thinners,which increase the chance of excessive bleeding during surgery including: ginko biloba, garlic, gensing, dong quai, willow, red clover.
• STOP taking Vitamin E before surgery because it too can increase the risk of excess bleeding during surgery.

Two Days Prior To Surgery
Absolutely avoid consuming any alcohol or alcoholic beverages 48 hours prior to surgery and 48 hours after surgery. These can have disastrous consequences on the surgery as well as the anesthesia.

The Day Before Surgery

• Absolutely do not take any of the medications or supplements already stopped (above) including Aspirin or Motrin.
• Follow a clear liquid diet with lots of water, Do not take any milk products.
• Drink a bottle of Citrate of Magnesia at 9AM, and take a Fleet enema at 5PM to help clean yourself out.

The Day of Surgery
You may and probably should take any of these if they are currently prescribed to you:

• Heart Medication
• Blood Pressure Medication
• Anti-Seizure Medication
• Insulin (please only take HALF of your normal dose though)

• If you have accidentally taken any medications, supplements, or eaten food that you should not have, please call your urologist immediately.
• Bring all medications currently prescribed to you in their labeled containers with you to the hospital.
• Leave non-essential valuables (such as watches, jewelry, cell phones) at home to reduce the chance of misplacing or losing them in the hospital.
• If you wear glasses, contact lenses, false teeth or related personal items remember to bring a case to store them in during surgery.

After carefully studying these pre-operative instructions, you should proceed to read our post-operative instructions so you will be prepared for what comes next after surgery.