What Is A Radical Prostatectomy

A Radical Prostatectomy is a major operation which entails the removal of the prostate gland, a section of urethra which runs through the prostate, the seminal vesicles, and tying-off the vas deferens, along, generally with a margin of other tissue surrounding the gland. The bladder has to be 'purse-stringed' back down in order to reattach the urethra, and an 'anastomosis' is created at that point. The surgery generally destroys one of the sphincter muscles which control urinary retention, and incontinence is a common side effect, along with the impotence created by the removal of the erectile nerves, and possible injury to any remaining nerves, as well as penile arteries and other musculature. It takes a fairly long recovery period before any normalcies return.

Because the prostate is what produces the semen, losing ejaculatory capabilities is a given for this surgery, and possibly the TransUrethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), or TransUrethral Needle Ablation of the Prostate (TUNA) procedures as well. Those are done by going in throught the end of the penis, and are far less impacting, and much more minor procedures than the radical operation.

The general understanding is that the term "radical" is employed when cancer is present. In rare cases, open prostatectomy is conducted for BPH, the benign enlargement of the prostate that interferes with urnination. It is my understanding that open proastatectomy for BPH is only done when the prostate has grown to an abnormally large size and TURP would be dangerous.

Sen blo is interested in men's issues such as prostate