The amount of home care a child needs will depend on the complexity of the operation. Caring for the wound itself is straightforward. However, there may be a catheter in place when the child goes home. The parents will be shown how to care for the catheter until it is removed during a follow up visit with the surgeon.
There are complications with any surgery or anesthesia. These include bleeding, infection, and reactions to the anesthesia drugs. The penis may swell for a few days after surgery. The most common long-term complication is leakage of urine from a small hole where the skin was stitched together. This known as a urethrocutaneous fistula. The problem occurs in about 5 to 10% of hypospadias repair operations.