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About the Surgery |
Radical prostatectomy is an effective surgical treatment for prostate cancers that aims to remove the entire prostate gland and if necessary, some surrounding tissues. Whilst every effort is made to avoid the muscles and nerves that control urination and sexual function, this may not always be possible or successful.
It may be combined with other forms of treatment such as radiation or hormonal therapy, performed before or after surgery. Alternatively, if the cancer is confined to the organ, it may be used as a single treatment method. |
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Aim of Surgery |
· Improve survival
· If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, this surgery will give patients a better than 90 percent chance of living at least 10 years after surgery and a 80-85% chance of survival at 15 years. |
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How Long is Surgery |
1.5 to 4 hours |
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Anaesthetic |
General anaesthesia
OR
Spinal anaesthesia (injection in the back) |
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Incision/Cut |
15 - 20cm midline vertical incision that begins below the navel down to level just above the pubic bone (just above the base of the penis) |
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Description of Surgery |
After removing the prostate, the urethra is sewn to the bladder neck over a urinary catheter (a narrow tube that is passed through the opening of the penis into the bladder). The catheter is left in place to drain your bladder during recovery.
Drain tubes may also be placed around the site before the incision is closed.
Some lymph nodes may be biopsied to help determine if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate (which would determine if more treatment is required after surgery).
Nerve sparing approach to preserve erectile function may only be performed if it does not compromise the main objective of surgery in totally excising the cancer. |
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Complications of Surgery |
Impotence (Inability to have an erection)
Urinary incontinence
Faecal incontinence
Bowel Injury – may require temporary/permanent stoma bag
Injury to Ureter
Cancer may recur even after surgery
Death
Surgery may not proceed if the surgeon discovers during the operation that the cancer has spread significantly beyond the prostate gland. The surgeon will then close the incision without removing the prostate gland. |
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Duration of Hospital Stay |
4 - 6 days (for most patients) |
