Bleeding after surgery for enlarged prostate

[Maetta]

My dad had outpatient surgery for an enlarged prostate on Jan. 30, 2007. Did well during operation. Sent home the same day (Tuesday) with a catheter. Returned to Dr.'s office on Friday, February 2 to remove catheter.  Urine was clear-catheterremoved. That night bleeding began and could not urinate very much. Emergency room/hospital stay for 4 days with catheter and irrigation. Large Blood Clots. After getting those out & urinating he was sent home.Two days later we had to go back to the hospital with stoppage/bleeding and back to square one.  He was weak/pale hemoglobin was 9 and gave him 2 units of blood. Sent home without catheter 4-5 days later and happened again.  He could urinate for 2 days then took him back to Dr.-reinserted catheter (now has) but no blood so far. Had a very difficult time having a bowel. Losing weight/132 lbs. A man of small stature, but always muscular and healthy - weight of 160-170.   His appetite has not been good since the operation - he has always eaten three good meals every day. My dad is 87 years old and has never been in the hospital until Jan. 30 of this year.  This has depressed him greatly and he thinks he is not going to get better.  The doctor is a urologist and is supposed to be very good in his field.  He has even invented medical devices in the urology field.  With this background, my question is - Do we need a second opinion at another hospital/specialist?  Why is he still bleeding after this long?  Is that normal at all?  What else can we do?  Please help with any other suggestions.  Thank you.  

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You always have the right for another opinion.  Without evaluation, I don't know why the bleeding is so prolonged.  It may be due to a complication from the surgery, or a clotting disorder.

If your father is taking aspirin or coumadin, it should be stopped.  Blood tests looking at the liver function (which may affect clotting) as well as coagulation studies should all be considered.  The platelets should be monitored via a CBC blood test.  

The other consideration would be if the bleeding was coming elsewhere - for instance, the GI system.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[marly1956]

A related discussion, Prostrate Surgery/Bleeding from Bowel After was started.