Care after your hypospadias surgery

What are the instructions for wound care and catheter care at home?

Try to keep the dressing as clean and dry as possible. Don’t worry if it becomes soiled or smelly this is unavoidable, especially as your child will be on antibiotics and so may develop diarrhoea.

If your child doesn’t wear a nappy they will have a leg bag to drain urine into, empty this when it becomes two thirds full.

A larger bag will be given for overnight.

1. Connect to the valve at the bottom of the smaller bag.
2. Open the valve so the urine can drain.
3. Remove and rinse in the morning and save to use for the rest of the week..

The nurse will show and help you to ensure the catheter is secured, not kinked or bent and able to drain.

You will be shown how to carry out all procedures by nursing staff before you leave the hospital.

If the dressing is still very stuck on the day before the dressing removal, you should soak it with warm water with a table spoon of salt the night before on the morning of the removal to help it peal off easily.

What medicine will I need to go home with?

We encourage you to give regular pain relief for at least 48 hours with both paracetamol and ibruprofen, normally parents have this already. We often give you antibioitcs and a medicine to calm the bladder in case the protective catheters are irritating. This medicine is called oxybutynin, but it can be constipating so watch out for this and increase things that make your child poo soft if you are taking that medicine.

There is a leaflet about ‘Controlling Pain after Day Care Surgery – A Guide for Parents’. Ask for it if you would like a copy.

Do I need to change my child’s diet and fluid intake after going home?

Diet

Your child may wish to eat when you get home. Do not be alarmed if they do not want to eat a lot, their appetite will return. Try to avoid fatty or sugary foods to avoid sickness.

Fluids

Encourage your child to drink plenty, avoiding fizzy drinks.

What should I do if I am worried about my child at home?

First of all don’t panic, it can be a bit rocky for the first day or two.

We do see problems, especially with the dressings, following the surgery and generally they shouldn’t affect the repair. The numbers to contact are at the bottom of this page. Unfortunately your local doctors’ practice or hospital may not know lots about the problem so we recommend you speak to us.

When do I need to seek medical advice?

Your child may feel drowsy, dizzy or complain of headache. This is a common side effect. They may also be unsteady on their feet and should not be left alone until fully awake and co-operative. We advise plenty of rest until the effects wear off.

Will my child be given a follow up appointment?

All children with hypospadias surgery are followed up. Most will need the dressing off and the tube from the penis removed after 5, 7, or 10 days depending on the repair. After that your consultant will see you in clinic.

What activities should I let my child do after the surgery?

Whilst the catheter and dressing protect the repair, as well as the nappy, it pays to be just a little careful. This includes no wrestling or trampolining whilst the dressing on.

We generally find the children will not be ready to return to nursery or school for a few days.