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Prostatectomy
 
What is a prostatectomy?
Prostatectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat problems in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is part of a man's reproductive system. It is a doughnut-shaped gland in the small space between the base of the penis and the bladder. It completely surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine and semen pass. The prostate makes the fluid that nourishes and carries sperm. Sometimes it becomes enlarged and blocks the outlet to the bladder and the urethra.

How do I prepare for a transurethral prostatectomy?
Plan for your care and recovery after the operation, especially if you are to have general anesthesia. Find someone to drive you home after the surgery. Allow for time to rest and try to find people to help you with your day-to-day duties.

Follow your health care provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery. For this reason, if you are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. Also, your wounds will heal much better if you do not smoke after the surgery.

If you need a minor pain reliever in the week before surgery, choose acetaminophen rather than aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. This helps avoid extra bleeding during surgery. If you are taking daily aspirin for a medical condition, ask your provider if you need to stop taking it before your surgery. Antibiotics may be prescribed for a few days before and after surgery to help prevent infection.

Follow any other instructions your doctor may give you. Eat a light meal, such as soup or salad, the night before the procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.

How is it done?
A prostatectomy to treat an enlarged prostate gland may be a transurethral procedure or an open procedure. When a transurethral prostatectomy is done, the healthcare provider removes tissue from the prostate gland through a cystoscope that is inserted through the penis. No incision needs to be made. This procedure is done most often in men whose prostate is moderately enlarged. If the enlargement is greater, then open prostatectomy is usually done. This means the prostate gland is removed through a cut in the lower abdomen.

Radical prostatectomy is major surgery to remove the entire prostate gland and sometimes surrounding tissue. A biopsy of lymph nodes may be done at the same time. A nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy may be done to try to prevent erectile dysfunction. The goal of radical prostatectomy is to remove cancer of the prostate entirely and prevent its spread to other parts of the body.

What happens after the procedure?
You may be in the hospital for 2 to 3 days after the surgery, depending on your condition. Occasionally patients are discharged on the day of their operation.

You may have a catheter (tube) in your bladder to help it drain and flush out any blood clots that have formed. The doctor will remove the tube after the bleeding stops.

While recovering from surgery, you may have trouble controlling your bladder. You may notice blood in your urine or have trouble urinating. If this happens, rest in bed. Call your provider if it continues or gets worse. Drink a lot of water, and avoid activities that put strain on the abdomen, such as straining to have a bowel movement or heavy lifting, for 6 to 8 weeks.

Ask your provider what you should do and watch for after you are discharged and when you should come back for a checkup.

When should I call my health care provider?
Call your provider right away if:
  • You are bleeding a lot or passing blood clots.
  • You are unable to urinate.
  • You develop a fever.

Call during office hours if:
  • You have questions about the procedure or its result.
  • You want to make another appointment.





  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

  HIA File MEN4608F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.


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