Frequently Asked Questions

A Ureteric stent is a 2mm diameter soft silicone tube that is placed temporarily between the kidney and bladder and enables drainage from the kidney. Without it, the ureter will swell closed, causing a potentially dangerous, obstructed and infected system. The stent, however, lies on the most sensitive part of the bladder causing a constant urge to urinate. The stent also temporarily opens the lower valve in the ureter allowing reflux of urine from the bladder to the kidney, which can be painful and can encourage infection. The secret is to be very inactive, especially with movements around the fulcrum of your waist (no bending over, excessive walking, running or excessive sitting). The best position is a standing or lying down position with slow, planned movements.

Occasionally after circumcision where the foreskin of a young boy was still attached to the glans and the skin needed to be stripped off with the circumcision, a raw glans may be left. This epithelialises quickly within 3-5 days, giving the appearance of a bright red light bulb with an occasional yellow layer over this. The glans is not infected. Keep it clean twice a day and apply the provided antibiotic ointment. It will correct itself.

A Jelonet dressing is used after all circumcisions. Occasional bleeding in this dressing causes the scab to attach to the jel dressing. Lengthy soaking of the bandage in a bath of water for 30-60 minutes will allow easier removal. Mothers, however, tend to be over-cautious, but no damage can be caused to the wound by giving a careful, quick tug to detach the scab from the dressing after soaking.

Should you have been discharged prior to receiving your pathology results, they will be reviewed on your post-operative visit. A copy is usually sent to your GP as well. Should you require urgent knowledge of your histology, please contact the rooms and Dr. Schoeman will contact you as soon as he has a moment. This may be a late-night phone call on your mobile phone.

Any abdominal surgery, more commonly laparoscopic surgery where your abdomen is distended with air, may lead to the entrapment of air under the diaphragm. This will lead to referred pain of the affected shoulder. This will subside as the air is absorbed.

A number of issues may cause this after surgery. It is best to report to your closest Emergency Department or Dr. Schoeman’s rooms, where your urine will be tested and an ultrasound performed to confirm retention or infection. Appropriate treatment will then be given.

There is a small risk of infection with any procedure, especially with endoscopic procedures. Seek assistance from your GP or Dr. Schoeman who will prescribe specific antibiotics according to urine culture results, to curb the spread of further infection.

This is a common occurrence after most endoscopic procedures and may take up to 6 weeks to clear. However, should there be profuse pure blood passing from the urethra, seek URGENT REVIEW with the practice or closest emergency department (which will then contact Dr. Schoeman).

This is an emergency as stated in your procedure brochure. Seek urgent advice from your local Emergency Department , GP or Dr. Schoeman. There is a 2% incidence of sepsis associated with a Trans-rectal Ultrasound Guided Prostate Biopsy that requires URGENT ATTENTION. An Intensive Care Unit admission is advisable, where indicated.