Open Prostatectomy Bolster

Three weeks ago tonight, I was lying in my hospital bed when my night nurse decided to check out my "package" after my open prostatectomy.  She found what appeared to be some plastic gauze stuck at the bottom of my scrotum.  I didn't know of its existence until she told me, so I reached down and felt it.  I began to wonder if a lymph node had been harvested from that area and the gauze was just plugging a hole in my skin.  I was tempted pull this plastic gauze off.  I'm glad I didn't.  The nurse contacted my doctor who told her it was a "bolster."  I don't know if my doctor invented this technique, but its a way of adding tensioning stitches to the anastomosis. (where the urethra is sewn together)  Evidently, the bolster also serves as an alignment tool, and helps with urinary continence after surgery.  If this is true, it certainly worked for me.  I have no idea if use of a bolster is widespread, or if it can be used during robotic surgery.  I'm just glad I had it done, although it did cause quite a bit of discomfort until it was removed one week after surgery.  If you google, "prostatectomy bolster" you can read some references on this subject.

Sunbird, I had the bolster from the same surgeon and hospital you had it from and I too was wondering what was down there and even thought about removing it!! (as you know, it comes out in one week) They need to tell the nurses at Mayo why the bolster is used.  The PAs at Mayo told me that with the bolster, less than 2% of the RRP guys have continence problems.  I was dry as soon as the catheter came out and have remained dry since (8/09).  Several other RRP guys have told me the same thing.  The Old Sailor

Hard to say, but mine was performed at Mayo Hospital, Jacksonville, fL