2. What is Prostatectomy
The prostate gland is an important gland
required for effective functioning of the male
reproductive system. The prostate gland plays
a major role in nourishing sperm cells and also
helps in the release of semen from seminal
vesicles which help in the transportation of
sperms outside the body. It also facilitates the
movement of sperm inside the female body by
providing an alkaline medium.
3. Before surgery your doctor needs to assess the condition of the gland and any
irregular growth in its size etc. You will have a prostate examination where your
doctor may take the help of imaging techniques to understand the condition of your
prostate gland or might do the conventional prostate test. In the conventional test
your doctor the will insert his finger in your anus to touch and feel any irregularity in
the shape of the gland. This is required since the gland is present right opposite the
anus. After the results have been obtained, your doctor will decide upon the
required action. If you are detected with prostate cancer then depending upon the
damage, partial or entire prostate gland might be removed. You doctor might give
you certain medication before the surgery and you should arrive for the surgery with
an empty stomach.
Before the Procedure
5. How It Is Performed
The conventional way of surgery involves making an
incision either in the abdomen or in the groin area to
gain access to the gland. After gaining access to the
gland the surgeon needs to tie up the nerves to stop
bleeding while removing the gland and even lymph
nodes are manipulated. In cancerous conditions
doctors remove the entire gland with surrounding
tissue to ensure that no cancerous tissue is left
behind. They might have to remove some portion of
seminal vesicles as well. After the gland has been
removed doctors need to close and dress the wound.
6. Recovery
The procedure is not life threatening and if the gland had cancerous cells, then
you might have to take chemotherapy or some other therapy as prescribed by
the doctor. Men usually cannot become biological fathers after the removal of
the gland. This is because they cannot ejaculate sperms in the absence of
seminal vesicles. They might experience some decline in sexual drive as well.
Procedures like cryopreservation of sperms can become helpful as it can be
used for artificial insemination later.
7. Potential Risks
Doctors need to careful while performing the procedure as the gland is lying next
to your urinary bladder. If any injury happens to the urinary bladder, it can lead to
leakage of urine. In some case where doctors have to remove the entire gland,
they may have to construct some portions of urinary bladder again in which case
they may attach a pipe to the patient for easy removal of urine from the body for a
couple of days.