Prostate issues after heart bypass

[Rachel B]

Good morning
We are extremely concerned about my father.
He went in 5 weeks ago to have a quintiplet bypass and was under for 6 and a half hours. He was sedated for approx 48 hrs and in recovery for 5 days before entering HDU. He has just had a pacemaker/defib put in and the doctors want to send him home now on Monday - but he has had the catheter taken out and put back in 4 times now, and it is still in. He has not had a full bowel movement for 5 weeks, and is in pads with just small bits seeping out after having had 6 anemoies (apologies for spelling), and various laxatives. He has an enlarged prostate and his bottom is in pain. The nurses are lax, and have dismissed it as 'one of these things', and the doctors have stated 'we'll have to see how it goes'. We appreciate that various medications and sedatives can cause these issues, but NOTHING appears to be done, with one nurse even stating, 'well this is what it could be like now'. No information is being given, with a referral to a uriologist having only been made this week after the issue being forced with my mother - but being told, he'll have to be dealt with as a day patient - but we're concerned there is a lot of waste sitting in his stomach with toxins building up.

Can anybody advise please, and suggest anything - we don't mind paying for a private referral but don't know where to go/what to ask for and he is pain and can only walk small steps/short distances anyway because of his heart ops.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Mr Christopher Eden]

Good morning, Rachel

It is very unlikely that your father's inability to pass urine is just due to constipation. It is much more likely that he has an enlarged prostate and that his recent heart surgery has been the last straw as far as his bladder function is concerned. The good news is that his catheter is removing the need for him to have any immediate treatment for this. If he has had enemas then his bowel will almost certainly be empty and it is quite normal for bowel habit to be upset after any major operation. The urologist he has been referred to is likely to arrange another trial of voiding (removal of the catheter) but if he fails this then he is likely to need an operation on his prostate (TURP or re-bore of the prostate) to allow him to pass urine normally again. I can understand your frustration.

[Philippa Aslet]

Dear Rachel

It can be realy difficult to see those we love unwell and suffereing in any way. The nurses and doctors caring for your farther will be Cardiology experts rather than Urology experts. I am sorry that it has been such a struggle for you to get help.

A referral to a Urologist is what he needs. As Mr Eden says this is more than likely an enlarged prostate problem rather than constipation. Prostate enlargement is a normal part of the aging process in men and can usually be easily treated sometimes with medication and sometimes with surgery.
At the moment the most pressing problem is for him to recover from his cardiac surgery. The catheter may not be ideal but will ensure he can empty his bladder. He is probably safer to stay with the catheter until he has had a urology review. They can then advise the best course of action to manage his urinary problems.