Post-operative Instructions: Ureteral Reimplantation

ACTIVITY
Quiet play for 4 weeks. Avoid heavy lifting, roughhousing, running, climbing, bicycle riding, etc. No swimming for 3-4 weeks after surgery. Your child may return to school in one week, when they feel comfortable, but no gym or recess for 4 weeks after surgery. It is important to avoid bumping the surgical area until healing has taken place. Remember that children often feel better before healing is complete and they cannot be relied upon to limit their activities by themselves.

CARE OF INCISION
Your child will have a clear coating or steri-strips with a clear coating   over the incision. This type of dressing peels off by itself. It does not require any special care other than keeping the area clean and dry. The stitches will dissolve by themselves. Frequency of urination and blood-tinged urine may be noted for 2-3 weeks after surgery. Your child may have some wetting accidents, blood in the urine, burning on urination and/or frequency for two to four weeks after discharge. These symptoms will gradually disappear over time. 

BATHING
May not take a bath for 72 hours after surgery.

DIET
A normal diet may be followed at home. Encourage fluid intake.

MEDICATIONS
Your child should resume their daily antibiotic prophylaxis at home. This will be continued until your child has a post-operative voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), usually 6 months after surgery.

You may give Tylenol every 4-6 hours as needed for discomfort. Generally, children should not be given Tylenol more than four times in one day.

Dose:
4-11 months 80 mg  = four times/day  
12-23 months 120 mg = four times/day 
Over 2 years Read dosage instructions on bottle  

You will also receive a prescription for Tylenol with Codeine if regular Tylenol does not help to relieve the discomfort.  Use this medication as directed.  Do NOT use both regular Tylenol and Tylenol with Codeine at the same time.

You will also receive a prescription for Ditropan (oxybutynin).  This medication is used to help relieve bladder spasms.  Bladder spasms are noted as sharp pain which quickly comes and goes at various intervals and frequency, often before and/or after urination.

FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT
Call the office at (248) 519-0305 for a follow-up appointment with kidney and bladder ultrasound at approximately 4 weeks after surgery. 

WHEN TO CALL
If you notice increasing abdominal pain, abdominal distention, fever, nausea, vomiting, drainage or leakage around the incision, notify us by calling (248) 519-0305.