If I have HIFU what can I expect?
Initially you will have a consultation with a urologist to determine whether HIFU is the right treatment for you. You may be referred to have various tests to make sure you fulfil the treatment criteria. He will also explain the procedure to you and address any questions or concerns that you may have. Once this is done, we can arrange a treatment date.
We will contact you several weeks before the operation date with information about when to arrive at hospital and what to bring. As you will be having an anaesthetic, you will need to stop eating and drinking several hours before the operation. We will also give you some medication to take the day before the procedure.
On the day of the procedure, you will arrive early in the morning and then be shown to your room. You will meet your anaesthetist, who will explain what he is going to do and what you can expect. Your urologist will see you to answer any last minute questions you may have.
At the time of the operation, you will be taken to theatre and the anaesthetist will give you some medication either make you feel relaxed and sleepy or to send you to sleep; you will have discussed this in advance with him.
The procedure takes about 3 hours and afterwards you will be taken back to your room. The surgeon will have inserted a urinary catheter which will be in place for approximately ten days. One of our nurses will visit you in your room to explain how to look after the catheter and avoid any problems. As soon as you are ready and the consultant surgeon feels you are ready, you will be able to go home; this will probably be late afternoon or evening. As you may still be feeling a little bit groggy after the anaesthetic, you will need someone to escort you home (e.g. friend, relative or partner). We will give you a contact telephone number so that you can call us if you have any questions or problems.
You will come back to outpatients 10 - 14 days after the procedure to have the catheter removed. We need to make sure that you are passing water normally before you leave, so you can expect to be in the hospital for a few hours.
At 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months post-procedure you will have your PSA re-checked and reviewed in clinic to check on your progress. Of course you can contact us at any time if you have any queries.
