Simple prostatectomy

Definition

Simple prostate removal is a surgery to remove all or part of the prostate gland through a surgical cut in your lower belly, to treat an enlarged prostate.

See also:

• Benign prostatic hypertrophy
• Prostate resection - minimally invasive
• Transurethral resection of the prostate

Alternative Names

Prostatectomy - simple; Suprapubic prostatectomy; Retropubic simple prostatectomy; Open prostatectomy

Description

You will be given general anesthesia (asleep, pain-free) or spinal anesthesia (sedated, awake, pain-free). The procedure takes about 2 to 4 hours.

Your surgeon will make an incision (cut) in your lower belly, from below the belly button to just above the penis. The prostate gland is removed through this cut.

Often, the surgeon removes only the inner part of the prostate gland. The outer portion is left behind (similar to scooping out the inside of an orange). After removing part of your prostate, the surgeon will close the outer shell of the prostate with stitches A drain may be left in your belly to help remove extra fluids after surgery.

Risks

Risks for any surgery are:

• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
• Breathing problems
• Infection, including in the surgical wound, lungs (pneumonia), or bladder or kidney
• Blood loss
• Heart attack or stroke during surgery
• Reactions to medications

Additional risks are:

• Problems with urine control (incontinence)
• Problems with fecal control (bowel incontinence)
• Loss of sperm fertility (infertility)
• Erection problems (impotence)
• Passing semen back up into the bladder instead of out through the urethra (retrograde ejaculation)
• Urethral stricture (tightening of the urinary outlet from scar tissue)
• Damage to internal organs and structures