Hydrocele & Prostate surgery in very elderly - good idea?

J_J_Carter

Just seeking any views\experience here. My very elderly (94) father has had prostate issues (but not cancer) for decades and has had catheter for about 3 yrs.

In the last year he's had recurring hydroceles which have been drained via syringe.

At his last 'consultation' with the NHS specialist he was put on the waiting list for both surgery for the hydrocele and Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) under general anaesthetic.

I'm quite sceptical as his hearing-aid was defective at the time of the consultation and he's also of that generation where you just do what the 'medic' says without asking any questions.

I'd quite like a 2nd opinion on the risks vs. likely benefits but am unsure how to proceed on either NHS or private? Any help appreciated.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It's up to your Dad what to do. And if he is happy with the TURP (which isn't offered under the NHS for the fun of it, it is offered because it has a recognisable benefit) as a treatment option, then that's his decision - you can't go off for a second opinion if he doesn't actually want one.


If he wanted a second opinion whilst remaining on the waiting list, then he would need to approach his GP to refer him either NHS or privately.

margaretclare

You say your Dad has had a catheter for 3 years. Do you know the reason why?

Living with a catheter in situ is not fun, and it's possible that he's been re-examined by an enlightened and up-to-the-minute surgeon who can see that he has an enlarged prostate which would benefit from surgery.

DH had HoLEP a year ago - this is a state-of-the-art development from the old forms of TURP. He was admitted for surgery at 7 am one day, laser surgery under GA at 9 am, back on the ward by 11 am, catheter in situ for irrigation and drainage until midnight, catheter removed to allow the bladder to fill, once it was seen that he could pee normally he was home the afternoon after surgery. No problems since, and it has improved his quality of life immeasurably. Up to then he'd been up and down 6 times a night, couldn't go far from the loo, always popping into the loo wherever we went because 'when he had to go, he had to go!' No longer any of that.

Nowadays you are asked for your permission before they put you on a waiting-list, and they also discuss the ins and outs beforehand. It's all about 'quality of life', and your Dad's quality of life seems to be being severely affected by repeated hydroceles and maybe by an enlarged prostate. There's a huge amount of info out there - try googling 'prostate'. I think if your Dad is being offered treatment which will improve his quality of life it is up to him to decide, and I don't think it's for you to ask for a second opinion. Going private will be of no benefit, as this is now done routinely on the NHS with very good results. Not only DH, but a friend of ours from church had this done this week and he's home and fine. Enlargement of the prostate occurs in a majority of older men and the treatment now is well-established.

margaretclare

Just to add to this: DH says: anaesthesia is now much safer than it has ever been, much, much safer, so it's safe for a man of your Dad's age. This surgery is done by laser so much quicker and much less bleeding than the old types of prostate surgery (I remember these when I was a student nurse in the late 1950s!!) Your Dad may have been putting off getting anything done about this because he'd heard horror stories of what and how it was done. He'll have his quality of life improved tremendously - good luck to him.

J_J_Carter

because he'd heard horror stories of what and how it was done

Possibly, he put off getting catheter for years.

Now I just need to the silly old fool to write a will before being 'put under' :think:

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

J_J_Carter wrote: »

Possibly, he put off getting catheter for years.

Now I just need to the silly old fool to write a will before being 'put under' :think:

And you think that won't put him off getting something done?

:rotfl: