Passing Gas hrough penis after having surgery

On March 17th 2010 I had robotic surgery to remove my prostate. After 5 days in the hospital I returned home. Upon arriving home while sitting on the toilet I started to pass; what I believe was gas through the head of my penis while the catheter was as still in me.lem  The catheter came out a few days later and the problem was still there.  After several days I contacted the surgeon who told me to keep an eye on it. After having several medical procedures to try and diagnose the reason for this problem, I am left with the problem still. The procedures included a CAT scan, a test that involved me taking charcoal, and a scope exam. The results came back negative. The Dr. said I should monitor it and if the problem persists that they may have to go back in and operate.

No one has given me any information as to what this could be.

 

Can any one help me to understand what I am going through???

 

Thank you in advance!

Hi Jack,

I have seen this topic, being discussed here just recently in the last couple of months.  Hopefully those involved in the discussion will chyme in soon.  We have another member here with the same problem, and from memory, I think he got to the bottom of it.

Sorry cant remember who it was, but hopefully they will see your post.  Good Luck !

.............Kev

Jack,

A friend of mine had an experience similar to yours this past February.   His surgeon accidentally damaged the colorectal tissue during the prostatectomy and caused the formation of a fistula.   He was faced with two more surgeries.  The first to perform a colostomy to allow the tissue to heal and a second to reconnect the colorectal tissue.  The bad news is that the first attempt failed.  As soon as he heals from his last surgery,  they will try again.  He has changed surgeons to a very experienced colorectal surgeon.   You might want to consider getting an opinion from a good colorectal surgeon.

Carlos

 

At this point in time after a March surgery, you must have a vesico-colonic fistula (an abnormal connection between the colon and bladder) or some other bowel-bladder abnormal connection. Don't be surprised if you pass fecal matter also. A urine culture should show colon bacteria also, but that would not be a definite clue. A cystogram will likely show a fistula unless there is a ball valve connection there. A spontaneous closure is unlikely.

Hello Jack,

I had the fistula last year. Mine was a bit more severe - I was actually getting some feces through the penis right after my RRP. The doc kept me catheterized for two months, but after having the catheter removed, I began to get gas (penis farts) .  

The catheter went back in for another month, and I was placed on a "low residue" diet. That meant no roughage at all, no nuts, no whole grains, a very bland diet. Consequently I ended up gaining weight because I could eat ice cream, so feeling sorry for myself, I did that a lot.

After the catheter was finally removed, I had one more episode of gas, but convinced the doc not to re-catheterize me. He had told me that if it wouldn't heal on its own, then I would have to have another surgery. He had done hundreds of DaVinci's, and had seen this only once before. On a recent office visit, he told me that he had another one. He said that it was caused by a suture not holding.

Anyway, it's all healed now. But after all the catheterization, I had some muscle atrophy, and have had a "hard time" (excuse the pun) with both continence and erectile function.

Hope it all goes well for you.

-Charlie