Your doctor might recommend prostate removal for the management of a related health condition. In general, the surgical removal of this gland is used to eliminate and minimise the symptoms of dangerous medical problems such as prostate cancer. The results gained from partial or complete removal of the prostate will depend on your current health condition. However, if the procedure is successful, the medical problem can be cured or at least alleviated significantly. If you are discussing the possibility of prostate removal with your doctor, you should understand the surgical procedures that you can choose.
Traditional Open Surgery
Open prostatectomy is the traditional approach to prostate removal. As implied, this procedure involves opening up the skin using a significant incision. Once the cut is made, the surgeon will have access to the inner tissues, allowing the removal of the diseased prostate. The incision is typically made from the belly button to the pubic bone. However, this approach might not be suitable if you have other medical conditions which could be compromised by the retropubic incision. If this is your case, the surgeon can create the incision between the scrotum and the rectum.
Laparoscopic Surgery
The open surgical procedure is reliable because it provides a clear view and direct access to the diseased prostate. Therefore, it can be used for handling complicated prostate removal processes. However, the large incision is highly disadvantageous. The wound will be painful, there is significant blood loss and the recovery period is quite long. If you would like to avoid these detriments, you should consider choosing laparoscopic surgery. This alternative procedure is minimally-invasive. The surgeon will make small incisions and insert a tube with a camera to see the internal organs. Then, small surgical tools or laser can be used to remove the prostate and other tissues.
Robot-Assisted Surgery
Robot-assisted prostate surgery uses the same concepts as the laparoscopic approach. This procedure is officially known as robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. This process is relatively new, but the potential benefits for patients needing prostate surgery are indisputable. In simple terms, the robot-assisted surgery has a robotic interface or device to facilitate the removal of the tissues. The tools provided by the robotic unit are easier to manoeuver in comparison to human hands. Therefore, they will allow precise dissection of the tissue and removal of the process, ensuring high levels of success.
If you are uncertain about the correct procedure to choose for the prostate removal surgery, you should discuss the merits and demerits of each approach with your experienced surgeon.
Hello! Are you interested in finding out how you can deal with various diseases and illnesses? If so, you have come to the right place. My name is Mike and I live in Alice Springs, Australia. I am not a doctor or a nurse, but I have been nursing various members of my family for many years now. During this time, I have spent many hours in the doctor's office, the hospital and the waiting room. As a result, I have learnt a lot of useful things which I would like to pass on to other people. I hope you find my new blog useful.