Prostatectomy is most often done to treat localized prostate cancer. It may be used alone, or in conjunction with radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Prostatectomy to treat prostate cancer involves removing the entire prostate and some surrounding tissue, including lymph nodes.
Prostatectomy to treat prostate cancer includes open radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.
Prostatectomy also may be used to treat a blocked urethra caused by BPH. Prostatectomy to treat BPH doesn’t always involve removing the entire prostate.
Prostatectomy to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) includes open simple prostatectomy. This surgery eases urinary symptoms and complications resulting from blocked urine flow caused by BPH. These can include:
- A frequent, urgent need to urinate
- Difficulty starting urination
- Slow (prolonged) urination
- Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)
- Stopping and starting again while urinating
- The feeling you can't completely empty your bladder
- Urinary tract infections
- Inability to urinate
Open simple prostatectomy has a higher risk of complications and a longer recovery time than other procedures to treat BPH.
April 24, 2015
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