What Is Radical Prostatectomy?

A radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure doctors use to remove all of a patient's prostate gland and some tissue near the prostate. This procedure is used to treat patients with prostate cancer.

Surgery Reasons

• According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, men with prostate cancer may have a radical prostatectomy if the cancer is only present in the prostate gland and has not spread to other parts of the body.

Surgery Risks

• Men may have difficulty controlling urine flow, erectile problems or an injured rectum after a radical prostatectomy. These patients may also have difficulty controlling their bowel movements.

Procedure

• A surgeon removes the prostate gland and seminal vesicles during a radical prostatectomy while the patient is under general anesthesia or anesthesia of the lower part of the body. The surgeon may need to reattach the neck of the bladder to the patient's urethra.

After Surgery

• Patients may need to wear a catheter for urination while they recover in the hospital from a radical prostatectomy. Hospital stays may last for one to four days after the surgery.

Other Treatments

• Doctors may combine other forms of treatment with a radical prostatectomy, such as radiation therapy or hormone therapy.