Laparoscopic Burch Procedure

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A laparoscopic Burch procedure is also known as urinary bladder suspension. This procedure is done to treat stress urinary incontinence and bladder prolapse. Stress urinary incontinence is a condition where urine leaks before you are able to reach the toilet. This is due to sudden extra pressure put on the bladder. Small amounts of urine may escape during activities, such as laughing, coughing, and sports. A bladder prolapse happens when the ligaments supporting the bladder become weak. This causes the bladder to protrude or extend into the vagina.
  
  
• In a laparoscopic Burch procedure, small incisions (cuts) are made around the belly button. Caregivers will insert special tools and a laparoscope through these incisions to do the procedure. A laparoscope is a long metal tube with a light and magnifying glass on the end. During this procedure, the bladder will be pulled up into a more fixed position. Sutures (threads) are used to tie the neck of the bladder on each side to a strong ligament. This procedure will prevent the bladder from moving down, and urine from leaking during activities.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a list of your medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver.
  
  
• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight or prevent an infection caused by bacteria. Always take your antibiotics exactly as ordered by your caregiver. Keep taking this medicine until it is completely gone, even if you feel better. Stopping antibiotics without your caregiver's OK may make the medicine unable to kill all of the germs. Never "save" antibiotics or take leftover antibiotics that were given to you for another illness.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Activity:

• Ask your caregiver about doing Kegel exercises: These exercises squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and help them become stronger. Ask your caregiver when to start doing these exercises.
  
  
• Avoid too much pressure in your abdomen (stomach): Do not strain, lift heavy objects, or stand for a very long time. Do not perform strenuous exercises, such as running and weight lifting.
  
  
• Begin walking as soon as possible: Do not stay in bed for too long. Caregivers may have you start walking within a few hours after the procedure.

Foley catheter: Your caregiver may ask you to insert a Foley catheter on your own. A Foley catheter is a tube that is put into your bladder to drain your urine into a bag. The bladder is an organ where urine is kept. The catheter may make you feel like you have to urinate. If you are able to relax, the catheter will drain the urine for you. When the catheter is taken out, you can urinate on your own. Ask your caregiver for more information about self-catheterization.

• Do not pull on the catheter because this will make you hurt or bleed.
  
  
• Do not kink the catheter because the urine will not be able to drain out.
  
  
• Do not lift the bag of urine above your waist. If you do this the urine will flow back into your bladder, and may cause an infection.

Stress: Stress may slow healing and cause illness later. Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, relaxing muscles, music, or biofeedback. Talk to someone about things that upset you.

Wound care: When you are allowed to bathe or shower, carefully wash the incisions (cuts) with soap and water. Afterwards, put on clean, new bandages. Change your bandages any time they get wet or dirty. Ask your caregivers for more information about wound care.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your bandage becomes soaked with blood.
  
  
• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have chills, a cough, or feel weak and achy.
  
  
• You have nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• You have discharge or pain in the area where the urine catheter was inserted.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your procedure, illness, or medicine.
  
  
• You are urinating less often than you usually do.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have any of the following problems:
  
  
  • Blood is present in your urine or catheter.
    
    
  • Pain when passing urine or having sex.
  
  
• You have pain in the abdomen (stomach) that does not go away even after taking pain medicines.
  
  
• Your incisions have pus or a foul-smelling odor.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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