A catheter will be placed into the bladder. An ultrasound probe, which is placed into the rectum, allows the radiation oncologist and urologist to accurately place the needles. Then the rectal ultrasound probe is removed. After all of the seeds are placed, the urologist will perform a cystoscopy to look inside the bladder. Sometimes, radioactive seeds will need to be removed from the bladder.
Patients then go to the recovery room for about one hour.
Once recovered from anesthesia, they are moved to a room for an overnight stay in the hospital. There is actually little discomfort associated with the implant, but medications are available if necessary. Patients should not drive for 24 hours after the implant, so someone should take them home. Specific instructions regarding side effects, symptom management, medications and follow-up appointments are given to patients before they leave the hospital. After the procedure One month after the implant, patients return to Mayo Clinic for some simple post-implant studies.