Underlying Problem Requiring Open Bladder Surgery

Open bladder surgery is used to repair or treat a number of conditions. It may be indicated for issues as widespread as incontinence and bladder cancer. The surgical options are varied, and open bladder surgery is not the only possibility now that laparoscopic surgeries are becoming more and more common.

Treatment

The type of open bladder surgery chosen will depend on the condition being treated, the doctor’s familiarity with different procedures, and the patient’s wishes. There are several common surgeries, however. A retropubic suspension is used to lift the bladder and urethra in the pelvis to combat prolapse. A sling procedure works in a similar fashion.

Bladder stones can be the cause of discomfort, urinary tract infections, incontinence, and a blocked urine flow. Stones can be removed or destroyed using ultrasonic waves to break them up. This type of procedure uses a cystoscope and is not an open bladder surgery. In some severe cases, the surgery may actually work to implant an artificial urinary sphincter.

Bladder cancer has a few typical treatment options. A transurethral resection uses a cytoscope and a wire loop to cut out tumors in the early stages of bladder cancer. A segmental cystectomy is performed to remove a portion of the bladder. A radical cystectomy is an open bladder surgery that removes the entire bladder, replacing it with a synthetic bladder or one made from the small intestine.

Recovery from Open Bladder Surgery

The recovery process will rely on the type of surgery that was performed, open or otherwise. Open bladder surgery will probably require more of a recovery period than the less invasive procedures. A few days may be spent in the hospital, and the patient will be prescribed drugs for pain management. Depending on the underlying problem, there may still be other forms of treatment that need to be explored.