DEFINITION - CAUSES
Prostate surgery, also known as prostatectomy, is a surgical procedure most commonly used to treat prostate cancer by removing part of the man’s prostate, or its entirety. It can also be used to treat a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, which causes an enlargement of the prostate gland.
The prostate is a gland that carries urine from the bladder to the penis, located in the male pelvis, below the urinary bladder.
Except for Prostate Cancer and Being Prostatic Hyperplasia, in which cases it is recommended to have a surgery as soon as possible, there are some other reasons that affect and enlarge the prostate, that might urge the patient to have the procedure, like;
– frequent urination, especially at night
– painful or slow urination
– prostate bleeding
– inability to completely empty the bladder
– urinary tract infections
– inability to maintain a steady urination
SURGERY
In the case of prostate cancer, prostatectomy might be used on its own, or along with hormone therapy or chemotherapy, depending on the patient’s condition.
During the procedure, the entire prostate gland, or part of it, will be removed, along with the seminal vesticles, the sacs running through the testicles that produce semen. Most types of prostatectomy procedures are performed under local anesthesia.
There are several treatment options:
the most common method, a few incisions will be made on the lower abdomen in order to remove the prostate. In some cases, if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, they will be removed as well.
know also as robotic-assisted prostatectomy. Incisions are made to insert a laparoscope, a surgical tool equipped with a camera, which is used to removed the tumor.
a process most commonly used to treat Prostatic Hyperplasia rather than prostate cancer. The surgeon cuts pieces of the enlarged prostates with a specialized tool. They then pass to the bladder and are flushed at the end of the procedure.
RECOVERY
The Patient is advised to stay in the clinic 1 to 2 days after any type of the procedures mentioned above. After the surgery, the doctor will place a catheter that will help to drain the bladder. This catheter will need to stay in place for approximately 2 weeks thereafter.
Once the two weeks have passed a medical professional will assist in removing it, and the patient will then be able to urinate on his own.
After surgery, the patient should refrain from smoking, exercise, lifting weights, and sexual activity for 3 to 4 weeks. The area of the surgery should be maintained clean to avoid infection. There might be some swelling, and the patient could experience, at least for the first few days, some pain, irritation while urinating, and difficulty holding urine.
The recovery time will always depend on the type of surgery and the patient’s overall health.
Prostatectomy is a complicated procedure, and like with any surgery, some complications might arise:
– bleeding
– infection
– blood clots
– painful urination
– erectile dysfunction (common in most cases for a few weeks after surgery)
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