Patient Resources And Educational Information
Access helpful educational materials and preparation guidance designed to help you better understand urologic conditions, procedures, and surgical preparation.
Educational Resources For Patients
Understanding your condition and treatment options is an important part of receiving medical care. Bower Urology provides educational resources that help patients learn more about common urologic conditions, procedures, and treatment approaches.
These materials are intended to support conversations between patients and their healthcare providers by offering clear explanations of frequently discussed topics in urology.
The videos below address a variety of conditions and procedures commonly treated in our practice.
Patient Education Video Library
The following educational videos provide additional information about common urologic conditions and procedures.
Preoperative Checklist
If you are scheduled for surgery, there are three main requirements that must be completed prior to your procedure: labs, medical clearance, and medication adjustments.
These instructions apply to procedures performed in the operating room and do not apply to patients undergoing in-office procedures.
Labs
Patients will receive instructions during their visit regarding laboratory testing.
Labs are generally drawn two weeks prior to surgery at either Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp, depending on insurance coverage.
If you are undergoing kidney tumor surgery, labs will typically be drawn at the hospital the day before surgery.
Please ensure all required labs are completed at least two weeks prior to surgery.
Clearance
Depending on your medical history, you may require:
- A simple EKG and interview with a provider at MD Now
- Full cardiac clearance
Dr. Bower will review these requirements when your surgery is scheduled.
If cardiac clearance is required, a clearance request form will be sent to your cardiologist. Please contact your cardiologist’s office to confirm that they have received the request.
If the cardiologist requires an appointment close to your surgery date, notify our office immediately so scheduling adjustments can be made if necessary.
Medication Changes
- Aspirin should be held 5 days prior to surgery
- All supplements should be held 5 days prior to surgery
- Blood thinners such as Plavix, Eliquis, or Coumadin should be held according to your cardiologist’s instructions
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
These medications must be stopped at least one week prior to surgery. If these medications are not stopped in time, surgery may need to be postponed.
Affected medications include:
- Ozempic (Semaglutide)
- Wegovy (Semaglutide)
- Rybelsus (Semaglutide)
- Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
- Bydureon (Exenatide)
- Byetta (Exenatide)
- Saxenda (Liraglutide)
- Victoza (Liraglutide)
- Trulicity (Dulaglutide)
- Tanzeum (Albiglutide)
- Adlyxin (Lixisenatide)
Diabetes Medications
Oral diabetes medications should be held the morning of surgery.
If you use insulin:
- Take half the normal dose of long-acting insulin
- Hold short-acting insulin the morning of surgery
ACE Inhibitors And ARBs
Medications such as:
- Lisinopril
- Losartan
- Diovan
- Valsartan
- Irbesartan
- Telmisartan
should be held the morning of surgery.
All other morning medications should be taken with a sip of water unless otherwise instructed.
Additional Preoperative Instructions
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery, except for medications noted above.
Patients will be contacted the day before surgery with their scheduled arrival time.
Due to equipment requirements, emergency procedures, and scheduling adjustments, exact surgery times cannot be confirmed until the day before the procedure.
Patients should plan for:
- Approximately 2 hours from arrival until surgery begins
- Approximately 2 hours from the end of surgery until discharge or inpatient transfer
Patients undergoing prostatectomy should follow the bowel preparation instructions provided in the office.
Questions Or Assistance
If you have questions regarding your upcoming procedure or preparation instructions, please contact the office.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How should I prepare for urology surgery?
Before urology surgery, most patients need to complete lab testing, obtain any required medical clearance, and follow medication adjustment instructions. Bower Urology notes that these requirements generally apply to operating room procedures, not in-office procedures. Patients should follow the specific instructions provided during their visit.
2. When should I get lab work done before surgery?
Labs are generally completed about two weeks before surgery. Bower Urology notes that labs may be drawn at Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp, depending on insurance coverage. For kidney tumor surgery, labs are typically drawn at the hospital the day before surgery.
3. Do I need medical clearance before urology surgery?
Some patients may need medical clearance before surgery, depending on their health history. This may include a simple EKG and provider interview or a full cardiac clearance. Dr. Bower reviews clearance requirements when surgery is scheduled, and patients who need cardiac clearance should confirm that their cardiologist received the request.
4. What medications should I stop before urology surgery?
Medication instructions depend on your health history and the procedure. Bower Urology generally advises holding aspirin and supplements five days before surgery. Blood thinners such as Plavix, Eliquis, or Coumadin should be held only according to cardiologist instructions.
5. Should I stop Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications before surgery?
Yes. Bower Urology states that GLP-1 receptor agonists should be stopped at least one week before surgery. This includes medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Bydureon, Byetta, Saxenda, Victoza, Trulicity, Tanzeum, and Adlyxin. If these are not stopped in time, surgery may need to be postponed.
6. Can I eat or drink before urology surgery?
Patients should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery unless otherwise instructed. Some medications may still be taken with a sip of water. Patients should follow the exact instructions provided by Bower Urology or the surgical facility.
7. When will I know my surgery arrival time?
Patients are usually contacted the day before surgery with their scheduled arrival time. Because of equipment needs, emergency procedures, and scheduling adjustments, exact surgery times often cannot be confirmed earlier than the day before the procedure.
8. How long should I expect to be at the surgery center or hospital?
Bower Urology advises patients to plan for about two hours from arrival until surgery begins and about two hours from the end of surgery until discharge or inpatient transfer. The exact timing may vary depending on the procedure, facility schedule, and whether additional monitoring is needed.
9. What patient education videos are available from Bower Urology?
Bower Urology provides patient education videos on prostate enlargement, elevated PSA, prostate biopsy preparation, TURP, Aquablation, TURBT, vasectomy preparation, vasectomy recovery, prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, kidney cancer, radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, laser lithotripsy, and shockwave lithotripsy.
10. Who should I contact if I have questions before my procedure?
If you have questions about your upcoming procedure, preparation instructions, medications, labs, or clearance requirements, contact Bower Urology directly. The For Patients page lists the office phone number as 772-340-6777 and the email address as admin@bowerurology.com.